Recently, in accordance with the Tsinghua University Measures for the Selection of Top-Quality Courses, and following preliminary assessment by departments, review by the Office of Academic Affairs and the Graduate School, and final deliberation at the 4th meeting of the University Teaching Committee in 2025, the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University (AADTHU) has successfully added five new courses to the list of University-Level Top Quality Courses.
Among the newly honored courses, “Western Modern Design” by Wang Xiaomo, “Audiovisual Language” by Lei Lei, and “Copying of Ink Wash Figure Painting” by Wang Wei was awarded the title of 2025 Tsinghua University Top Quality Courses (Undergraduate). Additionally, “Creative Fieldwork” by Ma Wenjia was recognized as a 2025 Undergraduate Top-Quality Course for Off-Campus Internship and Practice, while “Animation Creation” by Lei Lei received the designation of 2025 Tsinghua University Top Quality Course (Graduate).
The Academy continues to advance the construction of exemplary curricula, leveraging outstanding courses to play a leading role in education. In 2025, the Academy selected 14 Academy-Level Top Quality Undergraduate Courses (4 new, 10 renewed) and 7 Academy-Level Top Quality Graduate Courses (1 new, 6 renewed). In addition to the five newly recognized university-level courses mentioned above, 9 undergraduate courses and 6 graduate courses successfully passed the university-level review for renewal this year. Consequently, the total number of University-Level Top Quality Courses at the Academy has reached 34, comprising 20 undergraduate courses and 14 graduate courses.
Wang Xiaomo | Western Modern Design
(Undergraduate Course)
This course emphasizes the integration of history and reality, highlighting the relevance of classic case studies to contemporary design phenomena and issues. It seeks to derive experience and inspiration from history, specifically to enlighten contemporary Chinese design. Furthermore, the course employs a thematic strategy to reorganize teaching content, emphasizing problem-oriented awareness in design and the relationship between design and culture. By elevating the conceptual conflicts found in specific cases to the level of design ethics, the course establishes an effective system for value judgment, thereby fostering correct professional values among students.
Lei Lei | Audiovisual Language
(Undergraduate Course)
Grounded in film narrative theory, this course utilizes classic film excerpts to help students learn and establish fundamental visual narrative methods, such as composition, editing, and mise-en-scène. It places particular emphasis on Eastern aesthetics in film creation, enabling students to build cultural confidence through viewing and analysis. Additionally, keeping pace with the times, the course builds upon film theory to focus on the application and innovation of audiovisual language in fields such as multimedia art and gaming. This approach helps students broaden their horizons within the complex contemporary media environment and discover their own unique artistic language.
Wang Wei | Copying of Ink Wash Figure Painting
(Undergraduate Course)
This course focuses on cultivating students’ personalized artistic expression and fostering independent creative innovation. It addresses two fundamental issues: the problem of “Form” (solid form/structure) in structural sketching, and the usage of “Line” in Chinese painting. Through the extensive copying (linmo) of primarily figure paintings, as well as landscape and bird-and-flower paintings, students deepen their cognition and understanding of form and brush-and-ink techniques. The course requires students to embody the “Xieyi” (expressive/freehand) nature of Chinese painting, allowing the brush and ink to flow spontaneously to express the imagery within their minds.
Ma Wenjia | Creative Fieldwork
(Undergraduate Practice Course)
This course is pivotal in implementing the integration of “Teaching Practice, Social Practice, and Ideological Practice” to shape students’ values and promote comprehensive education (the “Five-Edu” approach). It aims to organically unify these three types of practices, transcending singular professional skill training to integrate the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education into professional teaching. The course guides students to merge the shaping of national image, the construction of a better life for the people, the inheritance of excellent traditional culture, and the integration of art and science. The goal is to cultivate innovative talents who possess deep patriotic sentiment, solid professional capabilities, and the courage to shoulder the mission of the times.
Lei Lei | Animation Creation
(Graduate Course)
This course systematically outlines the theoretical foundations of collage art over the past century, focusing on the topics of “Collage” and “Moving Image” from various perspectives. Using specific artists' creative methods as examples, it discusses the visual media environments of different eras in a layered manner. Furthermore, the course encourages students to pay attention to the collection of daily materials and hand-crafting during the practice of collage creation. It integrates actual case studies, such as multimedia stage creation, motion graphics design, and museum exhibitions, into instruction, allowing students to share in the creative process and outcomes.
