第四期 - 2023年12月 研究通讯编辑委员会
IRCCS Successfully Holds the “Hong Kong 2023 Humanities Conference on Comparative Cultures of Care”: The First of its Kind in Hong Kong (IRCCS)
The International Research Centre for Cultural Studies (IRCCS) has recently concluded its highly anticipated conference, titled “Hong Kong 2023 Humanities Conference on Comparative Cultures of Care”. The event took place on 2-3 November at The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and simultaneously online to an international audience.
The conference is part of a larger project on “Comparative Cultures of Care”, which is a strategic research focus of the Faculty of Humanities (FHM). A culmination of the eight-month long online reading course, “Theorizing Care,” which ran from February to September 2023, the conference aims to expand the ongoing discussions surrounding care ethics and politics.
EdUHK Vice President for Academic Affairs, Prof May Cheng, Vice President for Research Development, Prof Chetwyn Chan, and Dean of Humanities and IRCCS Director, Prof John Erni graced the event and delivered their welcoming speeches.
Sixteen scholars from Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, and Hong Kong participated in the conference. Each presented original research around the 3 conference themes, including Theory, Culture, Care; Environment, Technology, Care; and Care, Pedagogy, Community. The papers touched upon both local Hong Kong issues and global perspectives, fostering a comprehensive understanding of care in different contexts and with different theoretical approaches.
The conference concluded with a thought-provoking roundtable discussion, where speakers took the opportunity to reflect on the papers and the collective discussions. The focus of the discussion centered around the conference theme, its timeliness, urgency, mattering, and the future of care work in diverse settings.
Through this conference, the IRCSS seeks to establish a tight-knit community of scholars who could support and promote curiosity and innovation in international research.
Two special journal issues based on the conference papers are being planned. It is expected that the knowledge shared and connections formed during this event will continue to inspire groundbreaking research in the future.
EdUHK Scholars Recognised Among Top 2% of Most-Cited Scientists Globally (FHM)
In a remarkable achievement, three scholars from the Faculty of Humanities (FHM) have been named among the top 2% most-cited scientists in the world, according to the latest annual rankings published by Stanford University. These rankings, compiled by a research team at Stanford, list top scientists from various fields, considering their single-year citation impact in 2022.
FHM's esteemed faculty members recognised in the list include Prof Jackie Lee Fung-king representing Faculty of Humanities (FHM) in the Languages & Linguistics category, Dr Lee Ju Seong from the Department of English Language Education (ELE), also in the Languages & Linguistics category, and Prof John Gilbert Trent from ELE in the Education category.
This recognition underscores the significant contributions these scholars have made to their respective fields and reaffirms EdUHK's commitment to fostering academic excellence and impactful research.
The 14th Conference of Asia-Pacific Consortium of Teaching Chinese as an International Language (CHL)
The Education University of Hong Kong, in collaboration with Monash University (Australia) and Ewha Womans University (South Korea), hosted 14th Conference of Asia-Pacific Consortium of Teaching Chinese as an International Language (APC-TCIL14) on 7th and 8th November 2023. The conference aimed to promote academic exchanges and foster the continued development of TCIL in the Asia-Pacific region. The theme of the conference is "Humanistic Care, Inheritance, and Innovation", with a focus on addressing issues of TCIL learner diversity and varied learning needs as well as new challenges brought by the changes of TCIL in the post-pandemic era. The conference hosted 12 parallel sessions with approximately 70 paper presentations that covered various topics such as Chinese language skill development, cultural exchange, and teaching innovation, attracting nearly 200 participants from about 13 countries and regions. By sharing best practices and the outcomes of theoretical research, this conference has not only enriched the theoretical building of TCIL, but has also propelled academic collaboration and research development, underscoring its substantial scholarly value.
“Language and AI in Asia: Challenges and Possibilities” Conference Jointly Hosted by Oxford University and EdUHK (ELE)
On 25-26 September, 2023, a hybrid conference titled "Language and AI in Asia: Challenges and Possibilities" took place, collaboratively organised by Hertford College, Oxford University and the Department of English Language Education (ELE) of EdUHK. The event was convened by renowned academics Prof Jieun Kiaer and Dr Mohini Gupta (Oxford University) and Prof Michelle Gu Mingyue, and Dr Ju Seong Lee (EdUHK).
The hybrid format of the conference, combining in-person and digital participation, proved especially advantageous. Addressing key themes like sociolinguistics and technology, technology and language pedagogies, language preservation and revitalisation, innovative approaches to language learning, and the future of digital education, the conference aimed to delve into the impact of Large Language Models (LLMs) on global language education, with a specific focus on Asia. It further highlighted how AI and digital tools could be harnessed to support the instruction of not only mainstream languages but also often marginalised indigenous, tribal, and minority (ITM) languages, and local Asian languages, thereby broadening the linguistic landscape. The hybrid format of the conference facilitated engagement of scholars from the global south, who comprised a significant portion of the attendees. This approach not only fostered a more diverse dialogue by including often-underrepresented voices, but it also had notable economic and environmental benefits. As such, the conference's hybrid model led to significant cost savings of about £61,929.68 and reduced CO2 emissions by around 44.68 tons, highlighting the potential of such initiatives to balance environmental impact and scholarly discourse.
Dr Shang Haifeng Aaron Explores New Paths for the Field of “History of East Asian Artistic and Literary Thought Originating from Religion” (LCS)
Dr Shang focuses on studying Sinographic texts in East Asia, while his research interest falls within the interdisciplinary intellectual history and cultural flows across literature, arts, and material culture with religions. Over the past two years, he has published two scholarly books: A New Translation and Annotation of the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment (2021) and Two Encyclopedias of Incense from the Northern Song Dynasty (2023). Currently, he is devoted to writing his third monograph, The Fragrance of Silence: Japanese Meditations on Huang Tingjian’s Fusion of Incense, Poetry, and Zen. With the writing proposal of this book, he was honored with the first "LCS Book Award" (2022), presented by the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies.
CRCLE Forges Collaborative Ties with External Research Partners (CRCLE)
To foster high-impact research, the Centre for Research on Chinese Language and Education (CRCLE) at The Education University of Hong Kong has recently renewed Academic Collaboration and Exchange Agreements with three esteemed institutions. In June 2023, CRCLE extended its partnership with the Centre for Chinese Linguistics of Peking University, followed by a renewal with the Research Institute of International Chinese Language Education of Beijing Language and Culture University, and the Singapore Centre for Chinese Language, both in September 2023. These agreements, valid for three years, aim to synergise the research strengths of CRCLE and the three centres in the areas of Chinese linguistics and the teaching and learning of Chinese as a first and second language. The collaboration encompasses the exchange of visiting scholars, the organisation of joint international academic conferences, joint research grant applications, co-supervision of postgraduate students, and the sharing of research infrastructures.
Exploring Tai Po's Literary and Artistic Treasures: Tai Po Literary Trail Tours (RCCLLC)
Research Centre for Chinese Literature & Literary Culture (RCCLLC) has successfully arranged five Tai Po Literary Trail Tours for the public, which are proudly sponsored by the Tai Po Home Affairs. The planned itineraries have been thoughtfully crafted by scholars, poets, and even Tai Po residents, each creating their own designed routes. For example, Writer Chan Mei led the participants to visit century-old shops, Poet Tsang Kam Yin added an art guided session during the tour. This project attracted a multitude of residents, both from Tai Po and beyond, who are eager to embark on these remarkable journeys. The tours have received an abundance of glowing feedback, as they seamlessly weave together the rich tapestry of Tai Po's literature, culture, history, and people. Furthermore, the upcoming tours will also offer a fascinating exploration of Tai Po's breathtaking ecological landscape.
FHM's Successful Gathering Enhances Research Postgraduate Community (FHM)
On 5 October, 2023, the Faculty of Humanities (FHM) hosted an event for research postgraduate (RPg) students, fostering a collaborative environment for research discussions and idea exchange. With Dr Andy Chin introducing the FHM's supportive environment and Prof Michelle Gu inspiring students to contribute to their fields, the gathering helped to highlight the faculty's commitment to nurturing a thriving research community.
The event also featured Prof John Erni emphasising the value of proactiveness and professionalism in academia and Dr Robert Tsaturyan, post-doctoral fellow at the Research Centre for Chinese Literature & Literary Culture (RCCLLC), stressing the importance of building strong research networks. The FHM extends its gratitude to all attendees, inviting everyone to stay connected for more updates on research and academic initiatives.