Sponsors: Academic Affairs Community-Engaged Learning (CEL) Office and the Program on Creativity + Innovation (PCI)
Dates: October 25-27, 2024
Location: Liuhe Village, Taicang, Jiangsu Province
This CEL immersive weekend trip, led by IMB Professors Yanyue Yuan and Nicole Wang, offers a unique blend of ethnographic research and hands-on design thinking. Explore the unique history and culture of this former fishing village which is currently undergoing renovations as a hub of urban-rural tourism. You'll learn about the village's past and present by meeting with village leaders and local residents, enjoy local food and scenery, and participate in a design thinking project to exercise your empathy, creative problem-solving, teamwork, and presentation skills in real-world scenarios.
Cost: Students need to pay RMB 450. The CEL Office covers the remaining costs of accommodations and transportation.
Application Instructions
We expect students who participate in this trip to demonstrate an interest in rural innovation and lifestyle, user research and design thinking. To better prepare, we will provide reading materials and hold an orientation meeting prior to the trip. Apply here by September 15 at 11:59 pm Shanghai time. Spots are limited.
Itinerary (subject to change)
Friday, October 25
13:00 - Depart from campus
14:30 - Tour of the village led by Liuhe town leader
18:00 - Dinner and icebreaker games
Saturday, October 26
10:00am-7:00pm: The project will kick off with case studies, followed by workshops and field research. The groups will brainstorm and design projects on how to market a village experience for urban visitors, with coaching from faculty.
Sunday, October 27
10:00am-5:00pm: The day will begin with a workshop on social media content creation. The groups will then work on an initial draft of their projects, iterate, and present the final work to key village stakeholders. Return to Shanghai on Sunday evening.