Arts
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Social Impact
As DKU continues to advance its efforts in innovation and entrepreneurship, social innovation, and hands-on laboratory practice, the university has developed a diversified innovation ecosystem. This ecosystem encompasses the DKU Innovation Incubator (Dii), the Co-Innovate Platform, and a range of Lab/Maker-based experimental projects(InLab).
Innovation Week is designed to bring together DKU’s existing innovation resources and showcase, over the course of one week, the complete innovation journey of DKU students—from idea generation and project development to real-world implementation. The event aims to enhance the visibility, impact, and cross-campus synergy of student-driven innovation initiatives.
Innovation Week Schedule
April 10, 2026
14:00-16:00 PM
Performance Cafe
Faire
Mini Maker Faire
A buzzing, marketplace-style showcase of student creativity is coming! This is a playground of bold, experimental builds—where ideas turn into interactive experiences you can see, touch, and play with.
Explore works from Makers On-Site Sessions 1–3—from AI chatbots and kinetic art installations to intelligent mobility builds—all in one space.
Wander through booths, try out interactive demos, chat with creators, and experience ideas up close. Every team brings something unique—come test, play, and be surprised.
See what’s been built. Share your thoughts. Catch the vibe. 🚀
18:00-20:00
Visitor Center
Party
Vibe Pop-up Party Night
Step into an immersive audio-visual playground co-created by humans and intelligent systems. Through live coding agents, music is generated in real time, while AI-powered VJ systems transform the space with evolving visuals.
You’re not just watching—you’re part of the vibe. Drop your own prompts, remix the sound, and shape the visuals as the night unfolds.
During the Vibe Live Jam, you can take control: generate music, manipulate visuals, and even connect with Open Claw for a fully interactive experience.
No coding experience needed—just curiosity and creativity.
April 11, 2026
9:40-17:30
SixArts Museum
Filed Study
Co-Innovate Field Study to SixArts Museum
This field study offers an immersive exploration of traditional Chinese material culture at the SixArts Museum. Through guided observation and discussion, students will gain insights into folk artifacts, craftsmanship, and design, connecting academic learning with tangible cultural heritage.
April 11-12
Performance Cafe & Visitor Center
Hackathon Competition
DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing
DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing
ED Healer and DKU co-host “Innovation for Wellbeing” Youth Mental Health Hackathon, focusing on mental health issues among young people aged 18-25. This hackathon invites interdisciplinary youth teams to develop functional technology prototypes within 48 hours, driving deep integration of youth participation, technological innovation, and social impact.
April 12, 2026
13:00-15:00
AB Ball Room
Project Showcase
Co-Innovate Showcase, Panels, Gatherings
Co-Innovate Showcase, Panels, Gatherings
By joining this Co-Innovate Showcase event, you will gain firsthand insights into how students transform innovative ideas into real-world social impact. This event offers a unique opportunity to learn from outstanding Spring and Fall 2025 project teams, explore diverse approaches to sustainability and community engagement, and connect with partners and collaborators across sectors.
You will also hear cross-campus perspectives from UNNC project leaders, celebrate the completion of Co-Innovate projects through a certificate presentation, and discover new pathways to participate in or initiate your own impact-driven projects within the Co-Innovate ecosystem.
15:00-16:00
AB Ball Room
Panels
Co-Innovate Panel 1<Into the Real World: Creating Social Impact on the Ground>
Co-Innovate Panel 1<Into the Real World: Creating Social Impact on the Ground>
This panel brings together experts and practitioners working across key areas of social impact, including youth development, labor rights and migrant worker support, long-term community volunteering, local nonprofit leadership, and grassroots health and education initiatives.
Guided by a facilitator with expertise in political economy, the discussion explores how frontline organizations navigate complex social challenges, mobilize diverse communities, and sustain meaningful change in real-world settings. Participants will gain grounded insights into the everyday realities of social innovation, how ideas are transformed into action, how communities build resilience, and how impact is created and measured on the ground.
16:00-17:00
AB Ball Room
Panels
Co-Innovate Panel 2<Sustainability Dialogues:Bridging Ideas, People, and Practice>
Co-Innovate Panel 2<Sustainability Dialogues:
Bridging Ideas, People, and Practice>
This panel brings together practitioners and educators from diverse fields of sustainability, including youth leadership development, community innovation, experiential education, and student-driven sustainability initiatives.
Guided by a facilitator experienced in social innovation and collaborative learning, the dialogue explores how ideas about sustainability are translated into actionable projects, how communities engage in long-term sustainable practices, and how young people can become catalysts for meaningful change. Participants will gain insights into cross-sector collaboration, innovative models of sustainability education, and the ways in which people, ideas, and practice intersect to build a more resilient future.
April 11-12
Visitor Centor
Hackathon Competition
DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing
DKU 48-Hour Hackathon: Innovation for Wellbeing
ED Healer and DKU co-host “Innovation for Wellbeing” Youth Mental Health Hackathon, focusing on mental health issues among young people aged 18-25. This hackathon invites interdisciplinary youth teams to develop functional technology prototypes within 48 hours, driving deep integration of youth participation, technological innovation, and social impact.
April 13, 2026
18:00-20:00
IB 2049
Workshop
Wood Alchemy: AI x Laser Cutting Workshop
Design it. Cut it. Build it.
Turn your ideas into real, tangible objects in a fully hands-on creative experience. Using AI-powered tools, you’ll generate and refine your own designs—whether it’s a custom keychain, a unique lamp, or another original creation. Learn how to transform inspiration into clear design concepts that are ready to be made, blending creativity with emerging technology.
You’ll bring those designs into the physical world by converting them into laser-cut wooden pieces and putting them together yourself. From preparing files to assembling the final object, you’ll be involved in every step of the process. No prior experience is needed—just curiosity and a willingness to experiment. By the end, you’ll walk away with a finished piece and a deeper understanding of how AI, digital fabrication, and hands-on making come together to turn ideas into reality.
12:00-14:00
Performerformance Cafe
Info Session
InE Info Session
DKU InE (Innovation and Entrepreneurship Initiative) is Duke Kunshan University’s hub for cross-disciplinary innovation, real-world problem-solving, and startup incubation. We connect students, faculty, and industry partners to turn ideas into impact through workshops, mentorship, funding, and hands-on projects. Join our info session to explore resources, programs, and how you can start your innovation journey at DKU.
18:00-20:00
LIB 2101B
Film Screening
Dii Documentory Screening：Crafted Legacy
Join us for a documentary screening featuring Vietnam’s traditional crafts—cultural legacies at risk of extinction due to economic pressures, inadequate policy protection, and generational gaps.
We present five short documentaries on endangered crafts from Hue, Hanoi, and Quang Nam, capturing artisans’ stories, dedication, and creative processes.
Immerse yourself in these crafts, listen to artisans’ voices, and join us to preserve Vietnam’s cultural heritage for future generations.
April 14, 2026
10:00-13:00 & 15:00-18:00
Visitor Center
Workshop
Co-Innovate Workshop: LEGO® Serious Play®; Social Innovation Exploration
Join us for an immersive, hands-on Co-Innovate Workshop powered by LEGO® Serious Play®, a globally recognized, research-backed creativity and facilitation method that transforms how people think, communicate, and collaborate.
This dynamic experience is designed to unlock imagination, surface untapped insights, and enable participants to explore complex ideas through building, storytelling, and shared reflection.
12:00-14:00
IB 2049 & LIB 1121& LIB 1131
Open House
Lab open house: Play & Create
Come explore InLab at our Open House!
Here are several hands-on stations where you can play, create, and experiment with cutting-edge tech:
- AR/VR Interactive Games
- Laser Cutting Fun – make your own name tag or keychain
- 3D Printing Quick Tests – see your ideas come to life in minutes
Come explore, create, and have fun with tech!
18:30-20:00
LIB 1111
Workshop
Dii Green Mission Board Game Workshop
The Dii Green Mission Board Game Workshop invites participants to explore sustainability through an interactive and game-based experience.
Through a specially designed board game, participants will engage with real-world environmental challenges, make strategic decisions, and collaborate with peers in a dynamic setting.
April 15, 2026
11:30-13:30
Cafeteria Lawn
Fair
Dii Startup Faire
The Startup Fair will be structured as an interactive marketplace-style showcase, where Dii teams will:
- Set up a booth to present your project
- Demonstrate your product, prototype, or concept
- Engage visitors through structured interaction or user testing tasks
- Collect feedback, validate assumptions, and expand visibility on campus
17:30-20:30
Water Pavilion
Workshop
Co-Innovate Silent Dance Workshop
This unique workshop, co-organized by InE and partners, utilizes dance as a shared language to foster inclusion. Through experiential activities like vibration-based music perception and collaborative movement creation, participants engage in non-verbal dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and contribute to a more inclusive community.
18:00-20:00
LIB 1121& LIB 1131
Workshop
DIGITAL BODIES: 3D Scanning x 3D Printing Beginner Workshop
Beginner-Friendly! Turn Your Likeness Into a Unique 3D Keepsake ✨
Hands-on fun: 3D scan your own image, refine with Meshmixer, and print it to take home.
All equipment provided — no skills required. Create your one-of-a-kind 3D self!