RMIT University
The China -Australia Studies Forum
School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning
Portfolio of Design and Social Context
2008
Introduction
The China-Australia Forum is one of a key parts of RMIT’s University-wide network of globalisation and cultural diversity sponsored by the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, Portfolio of Design and Social Context.
RMIT University recognised the need for the Forum in response to:
· the risks and opportunities created by globalisation and cultural diversity;
· the desires of Chinese Australians to make productive contributions to Australia;
· the desires of Australians interested in engaging with China studies;
· the imperative to constantly enhance relations between Australia and Asia, and
· the research and education on Chinese Australians’ engagement with local and global education, training and broad affairs.
The China-Australia Forum was established in June 1998. It works to support Chinese Australians in confidently engage in wider community advancement, their interest in contemporary Australia, their past and present contributions to this country's development and their leadership in developing a prosperous, cosmopolitan Australia. It focuses on contemporary interests and issues facing Chinese Australians and seeks to give voice to those needed.
There are different groupings of Chinese Australians and each contributes significantly to the development of Australian society, their relations with the Chinese diaspora and the nations peopled by the Chinese. In this respect the Forum is distinctive, being the first of its kind in Australia to address these interrelated issues from the multiple perspectives of Chinese Australians. The forum took broader agenda since 1999 that has extended its capacities to engage in global practice, scholarly networking and enhance scholarship.
The RMIT China-Australia Forum aims to:
¨ proactively build educational and cultural relationships between Australia, the Chinese diaspora and China by means of joint programs, conferences and scholarly exchanges;
¨ broker and coordinate the provision of business and community leadership skills development and senior management training for people from China and those intending to work there;
¨ contribute to the sustainability of linguistic diversity, the enhancement of the world’s multilingual knowledge economy, and the renewal of Australian multiculturalism while investigating the problematic legacy of White Australian politics;
¨ undertake real-world research that investigates the complex and contradictory processes of globalisation and localisation, particularly as these relate to managing the risks associated with the globalisation of English; the uses of international education and training; and Chinese Australian relations;
¨ encourage collaborations between Chinese expertise within RMIT University to contribute to University’s international education strategy and its local and international operations.
¨ Enhance RMIT’s academic and research network with Chinese spoken countries and regions to strengthen University’s global presence.
China-Australia Forum’s major operations
Building “Both-ways” education, research and creating educational relationships
The China-Australia Forum works with Visiting Scholars to organise symposia, public lectures, trans-national networks, joint-authored research, study tours and student exchange programs to develop productive relationships with:
Chinese-Australians and other Australians;
the Chinese diaspora
the peoples and professionals of China
staff and students via exchanges
the Australian public via senimars and community engaged events.
Public lectures and seminars
The China-Australia Forum hosts public lectures and seminars presented by internal and external professionals, diplomats and visiting scholars. These presentations address real world issues concerning Australian community development and research, Australian’s relationship with other nations and, it roles in the Asian region and the world more generally. Between 2003 and 2007 the seven public seminars that the Forum jointly held with external community organisations covered topics of community health, Chinese Australian engagement in Victoria’s community development, business opportunities in Victoria and China, as well as language and culture education. Over 600 participants attended these seminars.
International visiting scholars
2008
Associate Professor Chunyang Liu, 刘春阳， 哈尔滨商业大学A/Prof Chunyang Liu is the Dean of Foreign Language Environment Office within Harbin University of Commerce, China. She is currently having a 12-month visit to the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning and The China-Australia Forum. During her stay A/Prof Liu provides lectures and seminars on Chinese language and culture, contributes to diverse activities enhancing Chinese language learning and teaching, and conducts research in cultural and linguistic studies.
Dalian Maritime University 大连海事大学 (DMU) Academic Delegation visit. The five-member delegation led by Professor Meng Lijun visited GSSSP and The China-Australia Forum in February 2008. Discussions were held on future academic program and research collaborations between RMIT University and DMU. To date The China-Australia Forum has received ten academics from DMU on long-term and short term visits. The visits have made significant contributions to RMIT’s language teaching and research.
2007
Professor Keming WANG 王克明is the Head of Foreign Languages Department, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics（南京财经大学）. He visited The China-Australia Forum and RMIT from March 17th to July 3rd, 2007. During his stay Prof Wang contributed to the major research project into the language proficiency of accredited translators and interpreters in Australia. He provided lecture series on translation and paved the way to the future long-term collaboration between the SGSSP, RMIT and the Foreign Languages Department, Nanjing University of Finance and Economics.
Professor Ning WANG ，王宁, Tsinghua University, （清华大学）China visited The China-Australia Forum and RMIT in December 2002 and February 2007. His research and wide publications in globalisation, comparative cultural studies and in particular, post-modernism research is known in Asian countries and becoming worldwide acknowledged. During his visits Professor Wang presented a number of seminars and lectures to RMIT staff and students.
Professor Weihua LUO, 罗卫华 is from Dalian Maritime University （大连海事大学）China. His one-year visit to The China-Australia Forum (2002-2003) and RMIT’s former Department of Language and International Studies was dedicated to professional development, joint research into postgraduate programs in English language teaching in Australia and China and research into international culture and education issues. Professor Luo was the granted scholarship to undertake PhD studies at RMIT. He completed research and was awarded a PhD in 2007.
2006
Associate Professor Jie YANG 杨捷 (June 2005 – June 2006) is a visiting scholar from Chongqing Normal University. During her one year stay at The China-Australia Forum within School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, RMIT, she made sound contributions to lectures and seminars to undergraduate students in Chinese language and English teaching in China. She engaged in research on Education, Culture and Literature, and also involved in various social and cultural activities. She said” I value my time at RMIT as it enriched my knowledge about global education from a cross-cultural perspective. I believe that knowledge I’ve obtained in the past 12 months has been rewarding and will contribute enormously in furthering my future professional and career development.”
Professor Weiguo LI 李卫国(Sept 2006- Dec 2006) is Head, Department of Foreign Languages, from Henan University, China. His visit contributed to delivering public seminars at RMIT on Chinese culture and media.
2005
Associate Professor Wang Yanqiu，王燕秋 is the second visiting scholar from Dalian Maritime University, China. She is currently working within the School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning and The China-Australia Forum for twelve months till June 2005. A/Prof Wang has been engaged in Chinese language teaching, jointly developed UMAP and internship programs with academic team at the School and the Forum. Her research interests are in areas of second language education, teaching English as second language and comparative studies on cross-cultural education in second language teaching.
Associate Professor Daming TONG, Associate Professor Xiaodong ZHAO, Mr Xuejun GONG and Ms Jing XIE were visiting scholars from Dalian Maritime University (DMU), China. They visited The China-Australia Forum, RMIT, from August 2005 to October 2005. During their stay the four visiting scholars engaged in professional development, academic and program collaborations between DMU and RMIT, gave a number of lectures to undergraduate students. A/Prof Zhao’s research interests are in micro pragmatics, teaching English as a second language, and cross-cultural communication. A/Prof Tong produced a joint research paper on professional development of Chinese women academics with RMIT colleague. Ms Jing Xie engaged in RMIT’s UMAP programs including teaching Chinese language and student supervision. Her research interest is teaching English as second language and cross-cultural communication.
2004
Associate Professor Hong FEI, 费红Head of Department of English, Kunming University of Technology was a visiting scholar to The China-Australia Forum and RMIT University between March 2003 and March 2004. Her engagement in English language teaching, research and program development contributed to academic enhancement and collaborations between language teaching experts in China and Australia.
2003
Professor Weihe XIE， 谢维和, President of Capital Normal University, Professor Feng Yihan, Head, Department of English Language, and Professor Tang Qiyu, Head, Department of Mathematics, of Capital Normal University. The three professors visited The China-Australia Forum and RMIT in November 2003. Prof Xie now holds the position of the Vice-President, Tsinghua University.
2002 -2003
Professor Weihua LUO罗卫华, from Dalian Maritime University, China visited The China-Australia Forum between 2002 and 2003. Also see the entry in 2007.
1999-2000
A/Professor Liu Shufan, Dean, Faculty of Foreign Languages, Jilin University, China, Prof Liu worked as a Visiting Scholar for one year at The China-Australia Forum (1999-2000):
"When I was at The China-Australia Forum, I observed a number of classes for over seventy hours. These classes covered broad topics ranging from English language to international studies. I obtained a better understanding of Australia methodologies in language teaching and curriculum development. I also invested time researching cultural similarities and differences between Australia and China, and how these factors affect students' language acquisition.
In July I was invited by the Faculty of Education, Language and Community Service (FELCS) at RMIT University to act as one of the external reviewers on the Research Disciplinary Audit Panel, by way of contributing to the redevelopment of the RMIT Research Management Plan. I worked as an international judge to evaluate FELCS' research development and implementation. I felt honoured to be trusted to do such an important task. This special event provided me with a unique insight into the research management in Australian tertiary education.
In July 2000 I attended the Seventh International Learning Conference. I presented a paper entitled "Higher education at the turn of the century: Chinese higher education, teaching reform and development".
I also delivered lectures on Chinese adult education to students enrolled in the Bachelor of Education program."
A/Professor Liu Shufan
Symposia
In 2002 the Forum bridged collaborations between Beijing Normal University, the largest and most significant in teacher education institution in China, and RMIT’s FECLS to jointly hosted the Ninth International Literacy and Education Research Network (LERN) Conference in July 2002 in Beijing.
In 2004 the Forum brings together the Centre Institute of Ethnic Administrators in China and School of Global Studies, Social Science and Planning, the Globalism Institute to jointly host an international Diversity Conference in July 2005 in Beijing.
Language and Culture Study Tours to China
Since 1997 the Forum has coordinated a number of exciting Language and Culture Study Tours to China. These study tours provide Australian students with the opportunity to obtain and/or enhance Chinese language skills, gain knowledge about contemporary Chinese politics, economic development, social changes, and underlying cultural issues of significance in China today.
Our Chinese partners, Nanjing University and Nanjing Normal University, provided considerable assistance and in-put into language and cultural study tour programs.
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UMAP (University Mobility in Asia Pacific): Study program to China
University Mobility in Asia Pacific (UMAP) Program is an association of government and non-government representatives of the higher education sector throughout the Asia Pacific region. The Australian Federal Government through DEST offers favourable UMAP scholarships to sponsor tertiary students to study accredited courses in universities throughout the region.
The China-Australia Forum obtained, in 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006, a total of $155,150 from DEST for UMAP programs to China. These funds have sponsored sixty RMIT University students to study and Program managers to work at partner universities in China. The Chinese universities hosted RMIT’s UMAP programs were Nanjing University (2001 and 2003), Dalian Maritime University (2004) and South China Normal University (2005 and 2006).
2001-2002
The UMAP scholarship recipients enjoyed unique living, learning and working experience in China where they developed personal and academic capabilities in a culturally and linguistically diverse challenging environment, and directly contributed to the enrichment of education and culture development at local universities.
Alex, a participating students briefly recount her experiences:
"…being able to communicate with the Chinese and trying to understand what their lives are like was a valuable experience. Travel is one of the best sources of education so long as it is accompanied with reflection, respect for other cultures and a desire to learn and experience new things". – Matthew J. Thompson
"It has made us aware of the importance of making friends and building bridges across cultures. We have understood that we do not live on an island but that the world is everyone's concern. We are all part of one human race". – Alex
2004
The ten students of 2004 UMAP group (2003 funds) studied at Nanjing University, China. The young team found the experience to be the “most exciting and unforgettable”. The group drew a summary of personal, academic and collective achievements through the UMAP program as follows:
· Independence and self confidence;
· New knowledge of Chinese language and culture (yet a lot more to learn);
· Organisational skills for living, learning and travelling;
· Sharing responsibilities with team spirits;
· Capabilities of coping with changes, new people, culture and new things including different food;
· Cultural sensitivity;
· Skills of handling (individual) differences and conflicts
The second team to China in 2004 consisted of 14 members. Their excellent performance at the host university in China, Dalian Maritime University, was highly appreciated by local students and academics.