Bejijng Institute of Fashion Technology is the only Chinese university dedicated exclusively to fashion. In turn, the Institute of Fine Arts at Kielce University works in the field of image and product design, developing, among other things, topics on the borderline of fashion.

The cooperation between universities is the result of last year\'s visit to China of the representatives of Kielce local government and business community.

The opportunity to finalize the agreement came with the participation of Chinese students in the XVIII edition of the International Competition for Designers and Fashion Enthusiasts "Off Fashion" that ended on June 4 in the Kielce Cultural Centre, in which the Chinese were among the awarded designers. Specialists from Beijing announced their cyclical participation in the "Off Fashion" jury. Kielce students will have the opportunity to participate in fashion competitions in Beijing.

The cooperation of universities will include joint activities and exchange of experience in the field of fashion and design, organizing student and scientific staff exchanges and mutual scholarships for students, as well as support and promotion for Polish and Chinese novice designers and brands.

The Jan Kochanowski University rector, Prof. Jacek Semaniak emphasised that there is a good chance of implementation of the agreement from the new academic year. In his opinion Kielce has a lot to offer, not only in connection with cooperation between the two universities, but also because of the development of design in the city.

He recalled that for several years the local government of Kielce had been developing activities in the field of design - the Institute of Design on Castle Hill, Centre of Fashion Design at the Kielce Technology Park, and the "Off Fashion" competition organized since 2007 has gained reputation.

Vice Chancellor of the Beijing institute Liao Qing explained that the aim of the institution is for design to make its way to production, and development of production technology in the fashion market. "Every major at our university, regardless of whether it is directly related to fashion, is somehow associated with it - that is, for example, the case with economy" - she added.

Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology is yet another university from the Middle Kingdom to cooperate with the Jan Kochanowski University. A delegation from Tianjin Polytechnic University visited Kielce in May. The Chinese are interested in the exchange of students of natural sciences. Three students from Kielce already study in Tianjin.

Jan Kochanowski University is the largest state university in the Świętokrzyskie region. It educates more than 12 thousand people in 41 fields of study.

PAP - Science and Scholarship in Poland

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