On 23 June, Northern Ireland (NI) experienced its hottest day of the year so far. The inaugural China Research Forum NI matched the heat with an equally energetic atmosphere, bringing together around 30 participants for lively discussions on a wide range of China-related topics at the McClay Library Auditorium, Queen’s University Belfast.

Jointly organised by the Chinese Students’ and Scholars’ Associations of Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University, under the guidance of the Association of British Chinese Professors (ABCP) Northern Ireland Region and Queen’s Language Centre, the Forum provided a vibrant platform for academic exchange and interdisciplinary dialogue. Professor Huiru Zheng, coordinator of ABCP NI, in her welcome speech, emphasized that

“At a time when global challenges increasingly require international perspectives and cross-cultural understanding, initiatives such as this forum play an important role in promoting informed dialogue and constructive engagement. Beyond the academic programme, the forum’s commitment to public lectures, roundtable discussions, and community engagement reflects the broader goal of connecting scholarship with society and fostering mutual understanding.

ABCP is especially proud to support this student-led initiative. By encouraging research excellence, intercultural competence, and active community participation, the forum embodies values that are central to our mission. We hope it will not only showcase outstanding research but also inspire new partnerships, future collaborations, and lasting academic networks.”

Mr Thomas Smith, Queen’s Language Centre Manager, welcomed participants from both universities and elsewhere, highlighting the value of forstering academic and professional skill sets through intercultural awareness, in which language and cultural understanding plays a pivotal role. The Language Centre at Queen’s does not merely provide foreign language courses, but also help promote a multicultural campus and society.

Miss Le Zheng, President of the Chinese Students’ and Scholars’ Association (CSSA) at Queen’s, although unable to attend the Forum due to a conference commitment outside Belfast, sent a recorded welcome message to participants, expressing her support for the initiative and encouraging attendees to make the most of this valuable opportunity for meaningful interdisciplinary dialogue and exchange. She wished everyone a productive and engaging forum, fostering new ideas, connections, and collaborations across disciplinary boundaries.

Dr Liang Wang, facilitator of this event, made a brief introduction to the foundation of the Forum and emphasized the goal of this initiative — a platform by students, for students and with students. He expressed his sincere gratitude to all speakers, volunteers, sponsors and participants’ support in making it happen within a relatively short period of preparation.

The presentations covered a rich variety of themes, including heritage literacy, religious practices, women and fashion, technology and healthcare, history and literature, language learning and the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), mothering and migrant motherhood, as well as student-led initiatives such as a film festival and an academic journal.

This breadth of topics fostered a highly interactive and intercultural environment, encouraging meaningful discussions and insightful exchanges between speakers and audience members from diverse disciplinary and cultural backgrounds. Thanks to the speakers, a collection of their presentations can be reviewed from the following link:

China Research Forum NI Programme Released

The Panel Discussion, chaired by Dr Liang Wang, welcomed student representatives Lijun Xue, Zhuofei Bian, Tianpeng Yao, and Xiaoxiang Ma as panellists. The discussion focused on the Forum’s vision, operational model, the challenges faced by Chinese students and early-career researchers, institutional support, potential outcomes, and future development. The panel was further enriched by contributions from Professor Sha Wei, Academic Lead for Race and Cultural Inclusion at Queen’s, and Professor Huiru Zheng, coordinator of ABCP NI.

A clear consensus emerged among both panellists and audience members that the Forum provides a valuable platform for researchers to meet, exchange ideas, and learn from one another across disciplinary boundaries. Participants agreed that this mutually beneficial spirit should remain central to future Forum activities, regardless of their format. Another key benefit identified was the opportunity for presenters to step outside their disciplinary comfort zones. Rather than presenting solely to supervisors and specialists within their own fields, participants were encouraged to communicate their research to a broader audience from diverse academic and professional backgrounds. This shift promoted the development of transferable communication and engagement skills, aligning closely with the objectives of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework.

Panellists also expressed a shared aspiration for the Forum to become more inclusive by attracting non-Chinese scholars and research students working on China-related topics or research involving local Chinese communities. Professor Zheng noted that comparative studies involving both China and other contexts, such as Northern Ireland, could be particularly effective in fostering dialogue and attracting wider participation. Drawing on their recent conference experiences in Dublin, both Lijun Xue and Dr Liang Wang suggested that expanding the Forum’s scope to include broader Asian or East Asian studies may be a worthwhile long-term goal.

Regarding the challenges faced by Chinese students in the UK, Zhuofei Bian observed, based on her own research, that many obstacles are shared by international students more generally, including language barriers and the development of professional and practical skills required for success in intercultural academic environments. While emphasising the importance of students proactively seeking support from supervisors and university services, she also argued that universities should provide more streamlined and accessible signposting to key resources, including academic English support, careers guidance, and skills development opportunities, especially in the age of AI.

In addition to academic challenges, participants discussed the impact of cultural adaptation, local living conditions, and wider political and economic developments on students’ wellbeing. Drawing on her own experiences, Lijun Xue highlighted how unfamiliar cultural norms and practical aspects of daily life can create uncertainty and anxiety for international students. She suggested that universities should strengthen orientation programmes and cultural awareness initiatives to help students better understand local contexts and engage confidently with surrounding communities. Professor Sha Wei echoed these concerns and reaffirmed the University’s responsibility to ensure that students experiencing difficulties receive appropriate support and guidance.

Another topic that generated considerable interest was the impact of technological advancement on research and professional development. Drawing on his recent job application experiences in China, Tianpeng Yao explained how AI is increasingly becoming a factor in recruitment processes and professional assessment. He suggested that AI is likely to have a profound influence on the future academic and employment landscape, creating both opportunities and challenges for emerging researchers.

When discussing the future dissemination of Forum outcomes, Xiaoxiang Ma, Chief Editor of the Journal of Eutopia Art and Culture, highlighted the importance of transforming suitable presentations into publications. Alongside more immediate forms of dissemination, such as blogs and online platforms, he suggested that publication opportunities could provide a strategic mechanism for sustaining the Forum’s academic impact and visibility.

Due to time constraints, the discussion could not explore all topics in depth. Participants were therefore invited to continue contributing their ideas and suggestions through the Forum evaluation form, enabling a broader collection of feedback to inform future development.

Written by Dr Liang Wang, with contributions from notes taken by Junyue Li during the panel discussion.