A UK-based independent worldwide fellowship
On 22 March 2025, Professor Xiangqun Chang, President of the Global China Academy (GCA) and Editor-in-Chief of Global Century Press, participated in the Third China-Focus Student Research Forum, hosted by the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). The forum was held from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the LSE campus (MAR.1.04), marking the third consecutive year of this student-led, cross-institutional China studies initiative.
Following the first forum held at SOAS, University of London in May 2023, and the second forum hosted by King’s College London in June 2024, the third edition was organised by the LSE Language Centre, led by Dr Lijing Shi, Assistant Language Coordinator (Mandarin), with strong support from student volunteers.
Invited academic participants included:
- Dr Lianyi Song, Principal Teaching Fellow in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at SOAS and co-founding editor of the Journal of Chinese for Social Sciences (JCSS);
- Ms Lik Suen, Principal Lector at SOAS and editor of the JCSS;
- Dr Hongfen Zhou, Senior Lecturer in Chinese Language Education at King’s College London.
Students from LSE, King’s College London, and SOAS took part in the forum, continuing its tradition of bilingual presentations and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Photo 1 (displayed in random order, can be updated)
The forum featured 13 student presentations delivered in both Chinese and English, covering a wide range of China-related research topics. Each presentation was followed by a short Q&A session, with a scheduled break enabling informal discussion and exchange. In the last row, far right, Dr Lianyi Song is seen raising a question to a student presenter.
Photo 2 (Academic commentary and award presentation)
Ms Lik Suen (left), Principal Lector in the School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics at SOAS, provided academic commentary on student presentations, offering professional and constructive feedback. The forum concluded with an award ceremony and networking session, strengthening academic connections among participants and institutions. Dr Lijing Shi (right) is shown presenting awards to student participants.
Photo 3 (Editorial exchange with JCSS)
A key highlight of the forum was the dedicated Q&A session with the editorial team of the Journal of Chinese for Social Sciences (JCSS). Professor Xiangqun Chang shared experience on academic writing, research development, and publication pathways, drawing on the Global China Academy’s long-term support for student and early-career scholars. This exchange further connected student research with formal academic publishing, reinforcing continuity within the scholarly community.
Photo 4 (Group photo)
The Third China-Focus Student Research Forum demonstrated the growing maturity of this student-led academic platform and the sustained collaboration between university language centres, student societies, and the Global China Academy. Through bilingual presentations, editorial engagement, and cross-institutional participation, the forum continues to nurture the next generation of China scholars and advance transcultural knowledge production and public academic practice.
