5th December is International Volunteer Day. We warmly invite Queen’s students and societies, staff and service teams, along with civic and community partners, to join this information session to celebrate International Volunteer Day and to explore ways to contribute to Queen’s Year of the Horse celebrations.
Come join us at 1 pm on the day in the iconic Lanyon Canada Room/Council Chamber for a get-together and sharing of celebration information and ideas.
All is welcome and registration is required for catering purposes.
Organised by Queen’s Chinese students and alumni, this concert is a community-oriented cultural initiative designed to foster diversity, inclusion, and intercultural dialogue in Northern Ireland. As the Chinese community represents one of the largest cultural groups in Northern Ireland, the concert also responds to their need for collective expression and connection, particularly for students and residents who may experience isolation or homesickness.
This concert project supports civic engagement by providing an accessible platform where local and international communities can come together to experience Chinese cultural heritage. Aligned with the principle that “music knows no borders”, the concert contributes to cultural exchange, mutual understanding, and the creation of more inclusive civic spaces. It directly supports institutional priorities in widening participation, celebrating cultural diversity, and strengthening community cohesion.
The concert presents Chinese classical poetry through art songs accompanied by piano and guzheng, bringing Eastern and Western musical traditions into conversation.
Queen’s students and staff members, as well as members of the public, are all welcome to sign up for the concert. Places are limited and tickets will be issued on a first-come-first-serve basis. To register, please either click the button below, or scan the QR code above.
Despite a busy – and perhaps slightly tedious – November filled with deadlines and submissions, the Chinese community at Queen’s, including both scholars and students, continues to bring campus life to full vigor and vitality.
This month, two academic seminars are scheduled, and we warmly invite you to attend and take part in these stimulating academic dialogues.
Seminar 1
Ni Yang, PhD student from School of History, Anthropology, Philosophy and Politics, will present ‘1976-1995: The Intersection of Urbanisation and Artistic Liberation in China: Beijing East Village’ at the History Seminar.
This seminar examines Beijing East Village (1992–1995) as a unique outcome of China’s post-Mao transformation, set against the backdrop of urban restructuring, market reforms, and shifting cultural policies. Following the end of the Cultural Revolution and the ideological thaw of the 1980s, Beijing underwent rapid urbanisation, the demolition of traditional neighbourhoods, expansion of infrastructure, and emergence of informal ‘urban villages’ on the city’s periphery. In these liminal zones, beyond full state control, artists forged new spaces for experimentation. East Village became a focal point where figures such as Rong Rong, Lü Nan, Zhang Huan, and Ma Liuming developed radical performance and photographic works that challenged social norms and redefined artistic freedom. Through case studies including 12 Square Metres, Fen-Ma Liuming’s Lunch, and To Add One Metre to an Anonymous Mountain, this seminar explores how photography mediated between transient performances and enduring cultural memory, amplifying their impact across domestic and international contexts. Situating East Village within the broader currents of economic reform, spatial politics, and cultural negotiation, it reconsiders the role of art in documenting, critiquing, and shaping a rapidly transforming society.
Ni Yang is a PhD student specialising in the intersection of history and photography, examining how images both document and shape historical change. His doctoral research investigates the cultural, political, and urban transformations of post-Mao China, analysing how photography operates as a medium for recording social realities, constructing public memory, and negotiating cultural identity. By situating photographic practice within the broader historical currents of reform, urbanisation, and shifting cultural policy, his work reveals the complex interplay between visual culture and the lived experience of historical transition.
Refreshments, drinks, and snacks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
Seminar 2
Dr Zi Yang, on behalf of the Private and Commercial Research Cluster, warmly invites you to join the research seminar with Professor Xiahong Chen, a visiting scholar from China University of Political Science and Law, on Tuesday 18th November in Board Room 2 (MST / 08 /014), School of Law.
Professor Xiahong Chen is Research Fellow at the Bankruptcy Law & Restructuring Research Centre of the China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and Senior Editor and Director of the Journal of CUPL (core comprehensive academic journal in China). He is an internationally recognised scholar of bankruptcy and insolvency law, with over 18 books and numerous impactful articles in leading journals, including Annotations to the Enterprise Bankruptcy Law (Peking University Press 2021) and Notes on Bankruptcy Law (Law Press 2021). His research has been translated internationally, and he is a member of INSOL Europe, INSOL International, and the American Bankruptcy Institute. The talk with focus on China’s recent Insolvency Law reform.
Refreshments, drinks, and snacks will be provided. We look forward to seeing you there!
On Friday, 3 October, despite the adverse weather conditions, the Mid-Autumn Festival and Welcome Event went ahead as planned, bringing together over 50 students, staff (including visiting scholars), and community partners in the McClay Library Auditorium. The celebration featured live music, cultural displays, talks, and refreshments, all showcasing the vibrancy and inclusiveness of Queen’s community.
Decoration with mooncakes and flowers
Decoration with mooncakes and flowers
The event opened with a captivating guzheng performance of Moon Rising High by PhD candidate Li Fei, setting a graceful tone for the afternoon’s celebration of community and civic engagement.
Welcoming guzheng music by LI Fei
Welcoming guzheng music by LI Fei
Jointly organised by The Language Centre and iRise (BAME&I) Staff Network, the event featured welcoming remarks from Thomas (Language Centre Manager) and Bee-Yen (Senior Lecturer, School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science; Co-Chair of iRise), who both reflected on the cultural importance of celebrating diversity at Queen’s. Mórrigan (Student Officer for Accessible Education) and Claudia (Chair of the International Students’ Association) also spoke, introducing the roles of the Queen’s Students’ Union in supporting a student body representing over 80 countries and regions.
Welcome by Thomas Smith, Language Centre Manager
Welcome by Dr Bee-Yen Toh, iRise Staff Network co-chair
Welcome by Mórrigan McEvoy, Student Officer Accessible Education
Welcome by Claudia Liu, Chair of International Students’ Association
Dr Liang Wang shared greetings from both local and international participants, including a surprise message from Queen’s University, Canada, and highlighted a series of successful student- and staff-led projects in line with the Cultural Diversity Scheme at Queen’s in recent years. He also invited attendees to take part in the new round of upcoming activities. Special thanks were given to student volunteer Shiuh Ting Gho, who delighted participants with beautifully written calligraphy pieces of traditional festival greetings.
Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations at Queen’s
Introduction to Mid-Autumn Festival
Greetings from the participants
Greetings from the participants
Greeting from a special guest from Queen’s University in Canada
Calligraphy display from Shiuh Ting Gho
Highlight 1 – Journal of Eutopia Art and Culture
Highlight 1 – Journal of Eutopia Art and Culture
Highlight 2 – Taste of the World: A Journey Through Food and Culture
Highlight 2 – Taste of the World: A Journey Through Food and Culture
Highlight 3 – QUB DEIB Forum
Highlight 4 – Bridges to China Project
In the cultural display segment, Li Fei further demonstrated her artistry through a traditional tea and incense ceremony, showcasing the elegance and mindfulness of Chinese cultural practices. Attendees showed great enthusiasm, enjoying both the demonstration and a taste of freshly brewed Chinese tea.
The afternoon concluded with networking, mooncake tasting, and refreshments, leaving everyone with warm smiles and shared appreciation for Queen’s commitment to cultural diversity and inclusion.
Hello September, we hope all will settle in quickly and have a great start!
With the start of the new academic year, we are delighted to host a special welcome event that brings together staff and students to connect, share knowledge, and celebrate intercultural experiences. This gathering marks the Mid-Autumn Festival, a time of reunion and appreciation, with the chance to enjoy mooncakes and experience cultural performances. We warmly invite all students and staff to join us for this festive celebration at Queen’s!
Date: Friday 3rd October 2025 Time: 13:30 – 16:00 Venue: Auditorium, The McClay Library
Due to limited capacity of the room and high demand, we are only able to accommodate up to 50 people, on a first-come-first-serve basis. People who are informed on a waiting list will be contacted if vacancies appear.
We hope you will enjoy the event!
Call for volunteers
We are looking for talented students and staff members to volunteer for our Chinese language and cultural events at Queen’s. It could be in the form of a variety of cultural performances, or language/culture-related topics and skills, and is open to both Chinese-speaking and non-Chinese speaking volunteers.
We look forward to working with you in our future events.
Towards Inclusive Belonging: Intercultural Realities and Responses to Microaggressions
Following the success of the inaugural QUB Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB) Forum in March 2025, the upcoming event will centre on the theme: “Sense of Belonging and Microaggressions among International Students”, with a particular focus on the lived experiences of Chinese and Indian students at Queen’s. Colleagues are warmly welcome to attend this forum, as below:
Date: Tuesday 24 June 2025 Time: 13:00 – 15:30 Venue: The Auditorium, McClay Library
Yushan Tang Wilson, PhD student, School of Psychology
A panel of academic, professional colleagues and student representatives will further explore both the conceptual dimensions and the practical steps needed to enhance inclusion, foster belonging, and address microaggressions within our diverse university community.
Programme:
Welcome Lunch
Introduction
Presentations
Panel discussion
Closing remarks
Places are limited to max. 40 due to room capacity and we have the first-come, first-served policy. The registration form will be closed once places are taken, or by 5 pm, Friday 20th May the latest.
Cena, E., Burns, S., & Wilson, P. (2021). Sense of belonging, intercultural and academic experiences among international students at a University in Northern Ireland. Journal of International Students, 11(4), 812-831. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v11i4.2541
Calling international students and Chinese students at Queen’s
Below are two pieces of ‘Wanted’ messages looking for participants. If you think you are the right person to get involved and make a contribution, feel free to contact them to express your interest.
1 Participants for AI and Second Language Acquisition Research
My name is Zhuofei, and you can call me Sophie.
I’m a PhD student in psychology at Queen’s. My first study focuses on the impact of AI on Second Language Acquisition. I’m currently looking for international students who are Non-English Speaker from any countries.
As an international student, have you ever used AI in your language use?
My answer is: I have — and quite a lot, to be honest!
As non-native English speakers, it’s perfectly normal for us to experience a bit of language anxiety when using English in UK classrooms. Imagine that moment when you want to speak up, but your brain decides to play hide-and-seek with vocabulary. Yep, been there.
Now here are the big questions:
Does using AI to help with language actually reduce that anxiety?
Does it make you more motivated to learn? Or more confident to speak up in class? Or… does it sometimes make things worse?
That’s what I’d love to find out — with your help! Let’s explore together how AI is really shaping our language learning journeys as international students. Who knows — you might discover you’re not the only one secretly best friends with ChatGPT!
If you are interested in taking part, please scan the QR code in the poster😊
There will also be a Focus Group on the same topic later. if you wish to participate, please send me an email. Thank you very much and looking forward to having a chat with you in what promises to be a very interesting discussion 👍
How to International – My Intercultural Journey as A Global Citizen 何以国际化 —— 我的全球公民跨文化之旅
Friday 13th June 2025 13:00-14:00 Auditorium, The McClay Library Teams: invite to be sent after registration
Speaker: Dr Zheng LI (李铮) is lecturer in School of Electronic, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Find Zheng’s academic profile Outline: Inspired by Jimmy O. Yang’s How to American, I’d like to begin by sharing my journey as a global citizen from China to Australia, Sweden, Chile, and now the UK. Through these diverse experiences, I’ve learned not just how to adapt, but how to thrive across cultures. In particular, I will share some personal reflections on how to survive and grow internationally. For me, it comes down to three key approaches – understanding, respecting and enjoying. Each culture offers something new to learn, appreciate, and celebrate. It is in that mindset that we truly become global citizens.
Melodies of the Chinese Zither and the Perfume of Books 琴韵书香迎端午 Friday 30th May 2025 13:00 – 15:00 Auditorium, The McClay Library
Speaker/Performer:
Wei DENG (邓维), QUB alumna from School of Arts, English and Languages
Chen GAO (高宸), visiting PhD candidate at School of Arts, English and Languages, from Minzu University of China
Outline:
This special forum consists of two sections.
In the first half, Wei will introduce her proposed project with Ludo Dao CIC which is committed to exploring the development of an intercultural approach to musical performance, focusing on the dialogue between the Chinese traditional guzheng and Northern Irish musical instruments. She will also perform selected guzheng pieces live and warmly invites local musicians — from Queen’s and beyond — to join in this intercultural exchange through music.
In the second half, Chenwill present an introduction to the Siku Quanshu (《四库全书》), the monumental imperial collection that has recently been shelved in Queen’s McClay Library. Focusing on its compilation process and the discernment of scholarly traditions, Chen will explore both the historical significance and contemporary relevance of the Complete Library of the Four Repertoires.
