14 March 2012
Scottish Government's China strategy to be outlined to design students
The Head of the Scottish Government's China Team will visit the University of Dundee next week to talk to students about the relationship between Scotland and China, and the opportunities to do business in the Far East.
Mark Boyce will meet with students from Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art and Design (DJCAD), who have elected to take the 'Made in China' module as part of their studies, on Wednesday, 14th March.
Mr Boyce will outline the economic and business relationships between Scotland and China, before students have the chance to ask him questions as they seek to build on the knowledge they have gained so far.
'Made in China' examines the role of design in the growth of China's consumer culture, and is available to full-time undergraduates at DJCAD, part of the University. It focuses on the country's role as a producer and consumer of design, both historically and contemporarily.
As China is now the world's second largest economy, an understanding of the complex and ever-changing status of design in the country is essential to companies across the globe.
Module author Jonathan Baldwin says it represents a move away from pre-conceptions about the Chinese economy and culture, and that he was looking forward to welcoming Mr Boyce to DJCAD.
"Mark Boyce's visit is timely as the first cohort of 47 students are now two months into the module, which has proved very popular across all art and design disciplines," he said. "This will give them a chance to build on what they have learned so far and find out more about the Scottish Government's strategy towards China.
"He will discuss the changing relationship between the two countries, and how to develop the ability to do business over there. 'Made in China' is actually a pun as we want to get away from pre-conceptions about the country, and look towards a sustainable relationship with massive opportunities for people in Scotland and China.
"When we've asked students why they've chosen to take this module, they've said that they are interested in learning more about China, not even necessarily for business reasons, but because they realise the need to understand this rapidly developing economic powerhouse.
"When you talk about Chinese design, people either think of ancient pottery and fireworks, or of modern day sweatshops churning out the goods demanded by western consumers. But the truth is far more complex and while it's right to examine the implications of the west's demand for consumer goods, China itself is rapidly becoming a massive consumer culture.
"This has enormous implications for us - China is becoming an important market for things we design here, but is also a competitor. The days when things were designed in the west and manufactured in the east are fast disappearing."
As well as offering a unique opportunity to examine modern Chinese culture and to get away from stereotypes, the module can be continued as a personal research project by students in the final year of their undergraduate studies.
It is hoped that the module can be rolled out across the whole University, and offered on a distance learning basis in the future.
Jonathan continued, "Although we have developed the module at DJCAD, there is no formal art and design component and so it can be connected to any number of disciplines across the University.
"I hope we can also offer it on a distance learning basis for anyone looking to improve their understanding of China".
For media enquiries contact:
Grant Hill
Press Officer
University of Dundee
Nethergate, Dundee, DD1 4HN
TEL: 01382 384768
E-MAIL: g.hill@dundee.ac.uk
MOBILE: 07854 953277 |
