The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Harvard-Yenching Institute co-hosted the HKU-HYI Joint Training Programme: Exploring New Frontiers of Research on Chinese Institutions from January 5 to 12, 2024.
Internationally renowned sinologist Professor Elizabeth J. Perry, Director of Harvard-Yenching Institute and Henry Rosovsky Professor of Government at Harvard University, delivered welcome remarks at the opening ceremony and participated in the subsequent programme.
Over ten esteemed scholars in Global China Studies from the United States, United Kingdom, Mainland China, Hong Kong SAR and Macao SAR, and 15 selected young researchers from around the world, gathered at HKU. Together, the scholars explored the dynamic process of Chinese institutional development and the theoretical foundation for the study. Discussing the impact of institutional change and continuity on Contemporary China, participants of the programme jointly reflected on many new frontiers in Global China Studies and sought to provide a fresh perspective on research of China's institutions.
Lectures and round table discussions were moderated by instructors in the field, including:
US/UK-Based
Oi, Jean C.
William Haas Professor of Chinese Politics, Department of Political Science
Senior Fellow, Freeman Spogli Institute of International Studies
Director, Stanford China Program
Stanford University
Thornton, Patricia M.
Associate Professor
Department of Politics and International Relations, China Centre and Merton College
University of Oxford
Walder, Andrew G.
Denise O'Leary and Kent Thiry Professor, School of Humanities and Sciences
Senior Fellow, Freeman-Spogli Institute for International Studies
Stanford University
Hong Kong-Based
Cheng Pei-kai
Professor
Director, Chinese Civilisation Centre
City University of Hong Kong
Tsai, Kellee S.
Dean, School of Humanities and Social Science
Chair Professor, Division of Social Science
Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
Mainland China-Based
Chen Mingming
Professor, School of International Relations & Public Affairs
Fudan University
Huang Ping
Professor
Executive Vice-President, The Chinese Institute of Hong Kong
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Li Lifeng
Professor, School of Government
Nanjing University
Pan Wei
Chair Professor, Faculty of Social Sciences
University of Macau
Tan Ankui
Professor, School of Government
Sun Yat-Sen University
Yu Jianrong
Professor, Rural Development Institute
Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Zhang Jishun
Professor of History
Si-Mian Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities
East China Normal University
Zhang Yongle
Associate Professor, Law School
Associate Director, Division of Social Sciences
Peking University
(In alphabetic order)
The programme featured lectures and discussion sessions led by leading scholars, with a focus on the study of China's social, economic, political, and cultural institutions. Young trainees presented their papers and participated in the lectures and seminars.
Professor Yan Xiaojun, Director of Research Hub on Institutions of China, stated that the programme is a fruitful collaboration with the Harvard-Yenching Institute. Both parties concur that it has fostered academic research on Chinese institutions and facilitated the exploration of new frontiers in Global China studies. He further emphasized that the programme has served as not only an academic platform but also a platform for the exchange of ideas and connecting scholars from a variety of academic disciplines. He anticipated that future academic partnership with the Harvard Yenching Institute and other academic institutions would help promote China-US people-to-people exchanges through cooperation in the higher education sector.
The Research Hub on Institutions of China is a research initiative for contemporary China studies established under the Faculty of Social Sciences, HKU, which focuses on the formation, construction, and future development of important institutions in various aspects of Chinese politics, economics, culture, society, foreign relations, and the "One Country, Two Systems" policy. The Research Hub seeks to promote scholarly excellence in the field of China Studies, with a focus on China's evolving political institutions. The Research Hub aims to become a world-class platform that facilitates interdisciplinary, cross-institutional and cross-regional research collaboration, a coordinator for the communication of great minds that share a common interest in China's past, present and future, and an incubator of innovative research that inspires younger generation of scholars on Contemporary China.
