Assistant Professor Jing Liu from the Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau recently attended the Cumulus Athens 2026 International Conference in Athens, Greece, from May 5 to 9, 2026, as a representative of the Faculty. The conference, themed "Roots | Routes in Design", was hosted by University of West Attica and brought together universities and scholars from the fields of design, art, and innovation worldwide to explore diverse topics related to design education and future social development.

Cumulus Association is one of the world's most influential international alliances for design education and research, dedicated to promoting academic exchange and collaboration among design institutions globally. During the conference, Assistant Professor Jing Liu participated in various international academic exchange activities and attended the Cumulus General Assembly as the representative of the Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau. The Assembly focused on discussions and resolutions concerning membership development, strategic planning, financial reports, international conferences, and academic network development. Key topics included the Cumulus Strategic Plan 2025–2028, the Cumulus PhD Network, international regional collaboration, and preparations for future conferences.

In addition, Assistant Professor Jing Liu also participated in coordinating the Cumulus PhD Network Session titled "Digital Transitions, AI & UX Frameworks". The session focused on emerging research directions including artificial intelligence, human–computer interaction, digital service design, and sustainable innovation, bringing together doctoral researchers from different countries and regions for paper presentations and academic exchange. Discussion topics covered current international design research frontiers such as human-centered digital product design, Human–AI co-evolution, intelligent product UX frameworks, Craft–LLM Interaction, and AI-Augmented Co-Design, further promoting interdisciplinary dialogue and the development of international research networks among young scholars.

Participation in the conference further strengthened the connection between the Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau and the international design education network, while also reflecting the FIAD's continued commitment to international academic exchange, young research talent cultivation, and the development of global collaborative platforms.

In recent years, the Faculty of Innovation and Design, City University of Macau has continuously expanded its international academic collaboration network and actively participated in international design education alliance activities such as Cumulus Association. FIAD has also been committed to advancing design disciplines in the areas of sustainable innovation, urban culture, and interdisciplinary research, further enhancing its international academic influence.