The Art, Design and Creative Media Workshop, part of the Bridging Ideas: Research Workshop Series
The Art, Design and Creative Media Workshop, part of the Bridging Ideas: Research Workshop Series (4–9) organized by New Era University College and jointly planned and executed by the International Education College and the Graduate School, was successfully concluded on December 19, 2025. The workshop series, launched on October 10, 2025, comprised six online sessions covering the full process of doctoral research from initiation to completion, aiming to provide systematic academic guidance and research support for graduate students in the fields of arts, design, and creative media.
This workshop, themed Art, Design and Creative Media Workshop, featured by PhD candidate Liang Bianyi from the University Kebangsaan Malaysia as the keynote speaker. The six sessions focused on research initiation and introduction writing, literature review techniques and identifying research gaps, qualitative research and artistic practice, quantitative methods and design thinking, result presentation and discussion writing, as well as conclusion writing and full-article structural review. Through this systematic arrangement, the workshop guided students in mastering the core stages of academic research and essential skills in thesis writing.
During the sessions, Ms. Liang shared her academic experience in the field of art research, providing detailed guidance on constructing research frameworks, selecting appropriate methodologies, and writing standardized academic chapters, while maintaining logical coherence and persuasive academic arguments throughout the writing process. She emphasized the importance of balancing academic rigor with disciplinary creativity, encouraging participants to fully leverage their field-specific strengths while adhering to proper research methods.
The workshop was held entirely online via Zoom, attracting almost 100 participants from relevant disciplines across the university. Active interaction was observed in each session, with attendees engaging in in-depth discussions with the speaker about specific challenges encountered in their research. Participants generally reported that the workshop helped them gain a clearer understanding of the overall doctoral research process and significantly improved their confidence and competence in academic writing.
In her closing remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Lew Siew Boon (Assistant Dean, Institute of International Education) stated that such academic workshops play a substantive role in enhancing postgraduate students’ academic competencies. She also noted that they will continue to organise more similar academic workshops in the future, providing students with richer opportunities for participation and learning.
The successful completion of this Art, Design and Creative Media Workshop marks the conclusion of the first phase of the Bridging Ideas: Research Workshop Series (4–9) for graduate students in arts, design, and creative media. Moving forward, the series will continue to offer more targeted academic activities across various disciplines, supporting graduate students in steadily advancing their academic journeys.
