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Celebrating the Establishment of the First Council for the "Ceramic Road" International Ceramic Education Alliance

On the afternoon of December 15th, the first council meeting of the "Ceramic Road" International Ceramic Education Alliance (ICEA) was held at Jingdezhen Ceramic University (JCU). The meeting reviewed and approved the alliance charter, endorsed the list of executive council members and council members, and voted on the proposed candidates for the positions of Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary-General.

The council meeting was moderated by Lyu Jinquan, Vice President of JCU. Present at the meeting were: Lei Jiehua, 2nd Level Inspector of Jiangxi Provincial Department of Education; Li Liangzhi, Party Secretary of JCU; Lyu Pinchang, Deputy Party Secretary and President of JCU; Wayne Higby, Director and Professor at the Art Museum of Alfred University (US); Torbj?rn Kvasb?, President of the International Academy of Ceramics and Distinguished Professor at JCU; Zhu Jinhui, President of Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts; Luigi Sepiacci, President of Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo (Italy); Wu Lei, Deputy Party Secretary of JCU; Chen Yunxia, Vice President of JCU; Chen Zhanquan, Vice President of Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts; Mu Lin, Deputy Party Secretary of Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts; Wei Junping, Vice President of Guangxi Arts University; Jessica Zhang-Pène, Director of Institut Confucius de Pau Pyrénées (France); Benjamin Creutzfeldt, Director of Konfuzius-Institut Leipzig (Germany); Sergio Soave, Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Ohio State University (US); Anthony Quinn, Professor at the University of the Arts London (UK); Rahmi Atalay, Dean of the College of Arts at Anadolu University (Turkey); Zhang Wei, Director of the Sculpture Department at Central Academy of Fine Arts; Wu Yongping, Director of the National Ritual Art Center at the Central Academy of Fine Arts; Dai Yuxiang, Dean of the School of Handicraft Art at China Academy of Art; Marieke Pauwels, Professor at PXL-MAD School of Arts (Belgium); Gianpiero Moioli; Dean and Professor at Accademia di Belle Arti de Brera (Italy); Yu Kwan-ho, Dean and Professor at College of Fine Arts, Hongik University (South Korea); Lu Bin, Professor at Nanjing University of the Arts; Zhang Fuye, Professor at the Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University.

During the meeting, Vice President Lyu introduced the overview and objectives of ICEA. The alliance is dedicated to creating a fresh international platform for ceramic education exchange. Its primary aim is to facilitate and expedite collaboration among member institutions in various aspects such as inter-school exchange, talent development, research cooperation, cultural communication, and the establishment of think tanks. The alliance also seeks to explore innovative mechanisms for cross-border talent development and mobility, ultimately striving to build a cohesive community in higher ceramic education. It aspires to contribute to the inclusive development of human civilization and foster open cooperation in ceramic education.

The attendees deliberated and unanimously approved the alliance charter. The following institutions were confirmed as council members of the alliance: Jiangnan University, Jilin University of Arts, Yunnan Arts University, South China University of Technology School of Design, Fuzhou University, Jiangxi Normal University, Shenzhen MSU-BIT University, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Nanchang University School of Arts, Xiamen Academy of Arts and Design, Nanchang Normal University, Shanghai Institute of Visual Arts, Communication University of Zhejiang, Hubei University of Technology, Shanxi University, Shanxi Datong University, Jingdezhen University, Pingdingshan University, Lishui University, Jiangxi Arts & Ceramics Technology Institute, Jingdezhen Vocational University of Art, Quanzhou Arts and Crafts Vocational College, Wuxi Vocational Institute of Arts & Technology, Jiujiang University Art Institute, Taiyuan University of Technology, Shanxi College of Technology, Jinzhong Normal Junior College, Huizhou University.

Representatives of the initiating units, Torbj?rn Kvasb?, President of the IAC, along with Chen Yunxia, Vice President of JCU, presented plaques to the council members of ICEA.

The following were appointed as executive council members of the alliance: Jingdezhen Ceramic University, Central Academy of Fine Arts, China Academy of Art, Xi'an Academy of Fine Arts, Luxun Academy of Fine Arts, Tianjin Academy of Fine Arts, Hubei Institute of Fine Arts, Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Shanghai University Academy of Fine Arts, Tsinghua University Academy of Arts and Design, Shandong University of Arts, Shandong University of Art & Design, Nanjing University of the Arts, Guangxi Arts University, Hunan University of Technology, Macau University of Science and Technology, International Academy of Ceramics (IAC), Alfred University Art Museum (US), Anadolu University (Turkey), Silpakorn University (Thailand), Accademia di Belle Arti Lorenzo da Viterbo (Italy), Korea Society of Ceramic Art (South Korea), Konfuzius-Institut Leipzig (Germany), Institut Confucius de Pau Pyrénées (France), PXL-MAD School of Arts (Belgium), National Academy of Art Sofia (Bulgaria), Belarus State Academy of Art (Belarus).
Representatives of the initiating units, Wayne Higby, Director of the Alfred University Art Museum, and Wu Lei, Deputy Party Secretary of JCU, presented plaques to the executive council members of ICEA.
After the awarding ceremony, the attendees voted to appoint Lyu Jinquan, Vice President of JCU, as the Secretary-General of ICEA. Lyu Pinchang, President of JCU, presented the appointment letter to Lyu Jinquan.

Lei Jiehua presenting the appointment letter for the rotating ICEA President to Lyu Pinchang.

Lei Jiehua presenting the appreciation letter for the initiating unit to Wayne Higby, Torbj?rn Kvasb? and Jacques Kaufmann.

Li Liangzhi, announcing the establishment of the First Council of “Ceramic Road” International Ceramic Education Alliance

As the first rotating president of ICEA, Lyu Pinchang delivered a speech, stating that the Secretariat of ICEA, permanently based at JCU, will strive to expand its membership globally and engage in cultural and academic exchange activities within the scope defined by the alliance charter. He mentioned that the workshops would aim to establish a new international platform for ceramic education exchange, serving as a bridge for communication among members, strengthening in-depth cooperation and exchange. Leveraging both domestic and international educational resources, he emphasized the complementary advantages to create a cohesive community for international ceramic education exchange.
Lyu highlighted that ceramics represent a global cultural language, and the internationalization and global exchange of ceramic culture should be the cornerstone of the development and progress of the global ceramic education industry. He expressed the willingness of JCU to collaborate with ICEA members worldwide to expand international cooperation and exchange projects in ceramic culture and material science. The goal is to advance new platforms for cultural exchange and distinctive brand construction, using ceramics as a medium. He emphasized the commitment to promoting the internationalization of cooperation among ceramic institutions, organizations, and industries, contributing wisdom and strength to the development and progress of global ceramic education.

The "Ceramic Road" International Ceramic Education Alliance was approved by the International Department of the Ministry of Education on September 10, 2021. JCU took the lead in initiating the alliance in collaboration with the IAC and the Art Museum of Alfred University. ICEA is a non-governmental, non-profit, open, and internationalized educational cooperation platform composed of universities and educational institutions both domestically and abroad. Its primary objective is to "build a ceramic education platform and promote international exchange and cooperation." Adhering to the principles of "equal cooperation, openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning, and mutual benefit," ICEA aims to facilitate international exchange and cooperation among its members in areas such as talent development, research collaboration, cultural communication, and think tank construction. Operating on the basis of respecting cultural diversity, the alliance seeks to foster collaboration and exchange in a spirit of equality and mutual benefit.

The council meeting was followed by the "International Ceramic Art Education and Exchange" seminar, moderated by Lyu Pinchang, the first rotating president of ICEA and President of JCU. The participants engaged in dialogues around the theme "China and the World," reflecting on the history and prospects of international exchanges in ceramic education both within and outside China, providing unique insights and constructive remarks regarding the future planning of ICEA activities.