Who We Are
Co-Innovate is DKU’s partner-based experiential learning platform, bringing together students and external organizations to explore real-world challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration.
What We Do
The Co-Innovate Platform connects DKU students with real-world challenges presented by corporations, community organizations, NGOs, and NPOs through structured, student-driven projects. Projects span applied research, technology innovation, creative practice(design, media, and the arts) and community-based social practice. Through these collaborations, students apply academic knowledge in real-world contexts, develop professional and collaborative capabilities, gain experience working with external stakeholders and contribute to meaningful community development. Partners benefit from interdisciplinary student perspectives, creative exploration, and opportunities to engage with emerging talent. Projects range from short-term engagements to long-term collaborations, creating an ecosystem of mutual learning, innovation, and growth.
Our Values
Co-Innovate means bringing together diverse perspectives, bridging knowledge and practice, and co-designing solutions that create sustainable impact. We believe meaningful innovation does not emerge from isolated ideas, but from collective imagination, mutual learning, and relationships built on trust, empathy, and shared growth.
Highlights
Real-World Challenges: Work on authentic partner or community problems, often ill-defined partner needs and community challenges, not simulated exercises.
Tackle Complexity: Students learn to navigate ambiguity, conduct research, iterate, and adapt as they develop solutions.
Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate directly with partners, community members, and end-users. Their feedback influences the students’ decisions, giving the work real consequences.
Meaningful Deliverables: Produce tangible outcomes that partners can actually use.
Reflect & Learn: Structured reflection sessions help students connect theory to practice, understand their own growth, and articulate what they’ve learned.
Key Stakeholders
Partners
- The most distinctive feature of the Co-Innovation Platform lies in its opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange with diverse partners.
- Our partners include community organizations, corporations, and NGOs/NPOs.
- We also welcome individual entrepreneurs and independent creative practitioners to join our projects, offering real-world insights, field expertise, and resources that help ensure the social relevance and applicability of project outcomes.
DKU Students
- The platform primarily serves DKU undergraduate and graduate students who work in interdisciplinary teams to address real-world challenges through research and innovation.
- Each team is led by a Student Leader who coordinates collaboration with mentors and partners, ensuring the delivery of high-quality, impactful outcomes.
- Exchange students from Duke University or Wuhan University are also welcome to apply, subject to availability after DKU students.
Mentors
- Mentors provide academic and professional guidance throughout the project, supporting student teams in problem-solving, reflection, and structured project development.
- Depending on the project’s focus, mentors may include DKU faculty members, external professionals, or experienced student mentors.
- Partners may also serve as mentors, offering dual academic and practical perspectives.
Co-Innovate Team
- The Co-Innovation Team oversees the strategic development of the platform and manages its overall operations. We identify and engage partners and mentors, recruit student teams, and coordinate project implementation and evaluation.
- The team also provides training, funding, and networking opportunities to support quality and sustainability.
- Through these efforts, each project is structured effectively from conception to completion, fostering collaboration, accountability, and long-term impact.
Project Types
Research Project
- These projects apply academic methods to address a partner’s specific question or challenge.
- Students conduct literature reviews, gather and analyze data, and translate findings into actionable recommendations.
- The final output may include a research paper, impact assessment, feasibility study, or other formal deliverable that partners can directly use.
Technology Innovation Project
- The Technology Innovation Project focuses on developing tools, systems, or prototypes to address technical or social problems.
- Students work closely with partners to identify needs, design solutions, and iteratively build and test them.
- The outcome could be software, hardware, data analysis tools, or improved processes as prototypes.
Creative Project
- The Creative Project uses design, media, or arts to communicate ideas, inspire change, and address challenges in innovative ways.
- Working closely with partners, students experiment and produce a wide range of creative outputs, including
but not limited to graphics, exhibitions, films or documentaries, marketing campaigns, public arts, and other design works that connect creativity with social impact.
Social Practice & Service Project
- This type of project is rooted in direct engagement with communities, focusing on capacity building, education, and service delivery.
- Students and partners co-design and implement community development initiatives and volunteer programs that foster trust, address local needs, and create sustainable impact. It includes two main formats: Project-Based Track and Community Leader Track
How it works
01 Project Application
The following guide outlines how students can apply for and carry out a project from startto completion.
Any questions, please kindly contact: DKU-Innovation@dukekunshan.edu.cn
1
Identify Opportunities
Students explore projects on the Co-Innovate Platform or independently reach out to partners to discuss potential collaboration and clarify the scope of projects.
2
Form a Team
Students are encouraged to form an interdisciplinary team with skills relevant to the project. One member should be designated as the Student Leader to coordinate the application process. Individual applications with specific interests or expertise are also welcome; in such cases, the Co-Innovate Platform will assist in identifying and recruiting additional team members as needed.
3
Submit Application
Teams complete an application form. Applications are submitted via the Co-Innovate Platform.
02 Project Execution
Once a team is selected, the project moves into the execution phase, which involves structured collaboration with mentors and partners, implementation of planned activities, and ongoing evaluation. This section outlines general guidance for all project types
Preperation
- Orientation and Training: All teams are required to complete all designated orientation sessions and training programs prior to project execution.
- Partner Meeting: Student Leaders organize initial meetings with mentors, partners, and team members to clarify project objectives, roles of team members, timelines, and expected deliverables.
- Proposal Submission: Teams prepare concise project proposals and submit them to the Co-Innovate Platform for review and approval.
What we offer
The Co-Innovate Platform provides students with structured support and professional guidance throughout their project journey. Through general training, student leaders training, and online learning packages, students gain the skills to manage progress, solve real-world challenges, and develop personal and professional competence. With access to funding opportunities and the Innovation Lab for collaboration and prototyping, students are guided to maintain project quality and deliver meaningful, high-impact outcomes.
General Training Program
The General Trainings provide all students with foundational knowledge and skills necessary for successful participation in Co-Innovation projects. These trainings equip students with the tools to manage teams, engage stakeholders, integrate academic knowledge with practical problem-solving, and evaluate project impact.
Online Toolkit Package & Online Resources
The Online Learning Toolkit complements training by providing on-demand resources to support self-paced learning and project execution.
All students enrolled in a project receive access to the toolkit at the start of the semester, which will be regularly updated with new modules, mentor recommendations, and curated partner resources.
Core Modules:
• Project Management Templates (Timeline, Milestones, Budget, Deliverables)
• Leadership & Teamwork Guides
• Stakeholder Engagement & Communication Toolkit
• Academic Research Resources & Citation Guides
• Creative Software Tutorials (Adobe Suite, Figma, Premiere, etc.)
• Technical Toolkits (Programming guides, hardware prototyping tutorials)
Interactive Resources:
• Discussion forums for cross-project peer learning
• Recorded webinars and mentor Q&A sessions
• Case studies of successful Co-Innovation projects
• Self-assessment tools for reflection and skill tracking
Funding & Space
• Seed Funding
Each approved team may receive initial funding to support essential project expenses. The DKU Finance 101 training will provide guidance on how to prepare funding proposals, submit reimbursement documents, and ensure compliance with university financial policies.
• Workspace & Facilities
Teams have access to DKU’s Innovation Lab, studios, and other collaboration spaces for meetings, prototyping, and creative work. Space reservations must be made in advance by contacting the DKU Innovation Lab team.
Media & Communication Support
The platform offers assistance in documenting project progress, producing short videos, and preparing materials for exhibitions or presentations, helping teams effectively communicate their project outcomes and social impact.
Our Partners
Student Stories
Wenyan (Kyle) Zhang / DKU'2024
The U-Corp project is not only a bridge that helps me connect theoretical knowledge with practical application, but also a platform for comprehensive cultivation of personal qualities and professional skills. I have greatly improved my innovative thinking and project management capabilities, and learned the skills to identify and solve problems in team collaboration. Collaborating with classmates from different professional backgrounds has further enriched my learning experience and made me deeply understand the importance of teamwork and diversity.
Jiayu (Echo) Xue / DKU'2025
I have learned to integrate knowledge and skills from different fields, find a balance between them through experiments and attempts, and even design innovative projects. This process has made me realize that there is no need to worry about the difference between the major studied and the skills needed. Being brave to try and make mistakes is part of growth and the key to finding a personal development path.
Yufei (Stephanie) Li / DKU'2024
In the U-Corp project, I believe the most crucial growth experience was learning how to advance a project amidst uncertainty. Through continuous communication with clients and adjustments to the plan, I learned how to guide clients to clarify their needs when information is insufficient, a skill that is extremely valuable in the future workplace. Because the instructions were unclear, I was actually exploring; I had to write reports and modify plans over and over again, then communicate with the company, and adjust again; I was a bit nervous working back and forth, but the final gain was a finely crafted result. More importantly, it cultivated my ability to solve problems, adapt to changes, and communicate effectively, laying a solid foundation for my subsequent career.