We had the special honor of hosting an exceptional Guest Lecture conducted by our esteemed guests from China, whose visit to North Macedonia was connected to Fashion Weekend Skopje. Despite their dynamic and demanding schedule, we were proud to welcome them to our campus, where we facilitated a meaningful academic engagement with our students and staff. Following the official meeting, the delegation proceeded to the Blue Amphitheatre, where we organized the lecture as part of our ongoing commitment to bringing internationally recognized professionals to our university and enriching the educational experience through direct exposure to global expertise.

During the lecture, we welcomed an outstanding group of speakers, including Zhou Jin, a globally recognized researcher and preserver of Chinese costume culture, costume designer for international political figures, President of the Shandong Fashion Design Association, visiting professor at leading Chinese institutions, chief planner and lead investor of the China International Huafu Design Competition, China Top Ten Fashion Designer, and a key figure in the promotion of traditional craftsmanship. We also hosted Jiang Xiaoxi, Associate Professor and Director at the School of Fashion Art at Hubei Institute of Fine Arts; Chen Ziyue, a Paris-based jewelry designer and founder of the contemporary brand Ylen; Feng Jinglei, a renowned fashion director and curator; and Xu Xingyuan, an artistic creative producer and visual director. With such a distinguished group, we provided our students with a rich and multidimensional perspective on contemporary fashion, bridging tradition and innovation, and highlighting the importance of creative direction, cultural heritage, and global industry practices.

We were especially pleased to have our Vice Rector Asst. Prof. Dr. Ahmet Lökçe, the Dean of the Faculty of Art and Design Prof. Dr. Aleksandra Ristovska, our academic staff, and our talented students actively participating in this significant event. We extend our sincere appreciation to Asst. Prof. Dr. Emilija Slavkova for successfully moderating the lecture and facilitating an engaging dialogue between our guests and audience. We also express our gratitude to H.E. Jiang Xiaoyan and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in North Macedonia, as well as all participating designers and professionals, for their presence and valuable contributions. We remain committed to strengthening such meaningful international collaborations and continuing to provide transformative learning experiences for our academic community.