UKCHA 2022 Conference held onsite and online
The UK China Humanities Alliance for Higher Education (UKCHA) Annual Conference 2022 was held onsite and online on 6 and 7 December 2022. This event was hosted by UKCHA, organised by Fudan University and supported by Tsinghua University and University of Exeter. The offline venue was set at Fudan University in Shanghai.
With the humanities playing an increasingly important role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust, the aim of the Alliance is to build dialogue between humanities academics and students in the UK and China. Tsinghua University in China serves as the secretariat to the Alliance, and the University of Exeter serves as the coordinating institution for the UK membership.
The annual UKCHA conference is an opportunity for British and Chinese scholars to come together and discuss issues related to major global challenges and the higher education. The 2022 conference specifically explored the theme of ‘Our Cultures, Our World’ across a diverse series of panel discussions, falling under four sub-themes:
- Universities in a Post-pandemic World;
- Global Circulation of Ideas and Objects;
- Cultural Heritage and Social Transformation;
- The Future of Arts and Humanities.
The two-day event involved 26 universities and institutes, with more than 60 academics amongst an audience of over 200 participants. A mainstay of UK and China engagement on scholarship in the humanities, the conference featured keynote speeches from Prof Chen Yinchi (Director of the International Centre for Studies of Chinese Civilisation at Fudan University), Prof Martin Puchner (Byron and Anita Wien Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Harvard University), Prof Yan Haiping (Chair Professor of Tsinghua Academy Class of World Literatures and Cultures at Tsinghua University) and Prof Adam Watt (Deputy Pro-Vice Chancellor for the Faculty of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at the University of Exeter).
Prof Lisa Roberts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, gave opening remarks at the conference, Reflecting on recent successful events convened by the UKCHA with the support of the University of Exeter as the UK’s coordinating institution. The Vice-Chancellor said that “I’m looking forward to the bright future of the UKCHA – we’ll continue to explore new and innovative research together, education and partnership possibilities, and I’m excited to see where the future takes us. And here at Exeter, we’re really happy and stand ready to further support the Alliance and do all that we can to enhance our global research community.”
Fudan University President Prof Jin Li also made opening remarks to the hybrid event, telling members and delegates that: “I’m very glad that the UK China Humanities Alliance has done a remarkable job in deepening exchange and collaboration in humanities between the UK and China, and we’ll continue to play a pro-active and innovative role in the development of the Alliance and bilateral exchange.”
Prof Gareth Stanstead, Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global) at the University of Exeter, said that “It’s an absolute delight to see a variety of humanities research shared by scholars from both countries,” referencing a number of exciting UKCHA initiatives such as the Higher Education Young Talent Alliance summit and the British Council enabling grant on reconnecting research in China, and committed to the University of Exeter’s coordinating role for UK members of the Alliance.
Prof Yan Haiping, who also serves as the Director of the Executive Council and Secretary General of UKCHA also led closing remarks with Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement, Prof Mark Goodwin, honouring the accomplishments of many Alliance members or the past year, from new publications to new appointments. Prof Yan also paid tribute to Prof Goodwin’s service to the Alliance in advance of his retirement, noting that he has made “great contributions to the development of the Alliance, especially in the aspect of working with UK members” and thanked him for his steadfast support for UKCHA activity with young students.
The next Conference will be held at Wuhan University in 2023.
For more information, please visit the UKCHA web page on the University of Exeter web site.
