Arkın Creative Arts and Design University (ARUCAD) has become a full member of CUMULUS, which creates a universal network between universities in the fields of art, design and media.
At the General Assembly Meeting of CUMULUS held in Rome on Thursday, June 10, ARUCAD, which explained the purpose of the university’s establishment, its educational model and future projects, became one of only two universities in Cyprus that were accepted to full membership. CUMULUS which includes the Royal College of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, Manchester Metropolitan University and Parsons School of Design among its members is an international association of prestigious universities worldwide. The common goal of all the universities that are members of CUMULUS is to increase the quality of education through student and academic exchange.
CUMULUS: an Association of Art, Design and Media Universities
CUMULUS (International Association of Universities and Colleges of Art, Design & Media) is a global association of art, design and media universities. Founded in 1990, CUMULUS has been recognized by UNESCO since 2011. CUMULUS aims to create and maintain a dynamic and flexible academic forum by bringing together top educational institutions from all over the world. CUMULUS also promotes education and research cooperation with industry and business. Since 2019, CUMULUS, headquartered in Finland, has a total of 340 members from 61 countries around the world.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Balkız Yapıcıoğlu: “CUMULUS membership is an important development that will affect the quality of education on the Island”
ARUCAD Interior Architecture and Environmental Design Department Head and Advisor to the Rector, Assoc. Dr. Balkız Yapıcıoğlu, who has been in communication with CUMULUS Secretary General Eija Salmi since October 2020, said, “We explained at the general assembly meeting and throughout the negotiation process that ARUCAD has the necessary qualifications for its membership in CUMULUS. With this development, our university has become one of the first higher education institutions on the island to be accepted as a full member in CUMULUS. In this process, Manchester Metropolitan University (UK) and Aalto University, Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture (Finland) have supported us a lot.
Stating that they aim for a model that is most suitable for an art-design-communication oriented university environment for ARUCAD students, Yapıcıoğlu said, “In this context, membership of CUMULUS has been one of the most important steps for our country and our university.
Yapıcıoğlu added, “To be a part of this important institution which strives to raise academic standards to the highest level in the field of art, design and media, through both ongoing communication between the member universities in the world, as well as through exchange programmes such as Erasmus, for both students and academicians, is a development with which we are thrilled and proud for both ARUCAD and the quality of education on this island.”
Founded in 2017, Arkın Creative Arts and Design University (ARUCAD), with its departments approved by YÖK and YODAK, provides education focused on art, design and communication