The opening ceremony of the Herzen International Art College at Shandong Normal University (PRC) took place on March 29, 2023.

Vice-Rector for International Affairs and Internationalization Dmitrii Mereshkin, representatives of the Herzen University’s Institute of Music, Theater and Choreography and Institute of Art Education attended the opening ceremony together with the leadership of Shandong Normal University.

In his opening address, Dmitrii Mereshkin said that it was a great honor for him and his colleagues from the Herzen State Pedagogical University of Russia to participate in the opening ceremony of Herzen International Art College at Shandong Normal University, which stands as one of the leading universities of Shandong Province. He also noted that it was a wonderful moment to attend the ceremony in person after the long period of online communications with the colleagues from SDNU. The College opened its doors for the first students last year as a new high-class educational unit of SDNU with active participation of Herzen University’s faculty and administration.

Both universities have been actively working on the project of establishment of the Herzen International Art College since November 2020 to the present day. In March 2021, an agreement on cooperation between the two universities on establishment of the Herzen International Art College was signed. In 2022, the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China approved the establishment of the College.

In September 2022, the Herzen International Art College launched 3 Bachelor’s programs: "Musicology", "Choreography" and "Education in the Field of Painting, Applied and Decorative Arts" and 2 Master’s programs: “Art Criticism: Music” and “Art Criticism: Painting, Applied and Decorative Arts”. Herzen University has actively participated in designing of the academic programs’ curricula providing methodological support and expert knowledge. It means that at least 1/3 of all courses at the academic programs are designed and lectured by the Herzen University’s faculty staff.

Further development of joint research projects and academic exchange is an inherent part of future partnership between Herzen University and Shandong Normal University. We join in the wishes for success of the Herzen International Art College at SDNU!