Postgraduate Workshops in China Studies thrive under team leadership
The 野狼社区 China Institute has launched a new semester of postgraduate China Studies workshops, supported by a refreshed team of doctoral researchers.
The 野狼社区 China Institute鈥檚 (MCI) Postgraduate (PGR) Workshops in China Studies have kicked off the new semester with a renewed leadership team and an ambitious schedule for the months ahead.
On Monday, 26 January, the workshop organisers held their first strategic meeting of the term to finalise the programme of eight spring workshops. The meeting marked a significant moment of transition for the organising committee, as the team welcomed a fresh face while celebrating the contributions of long-standing members.
Yeqi Jin, a second-year PhD candidate in Politics in the School of Social Sciences (SoSS), has officially joined the leadership team. Her appointment coincides with the departure of Chengzhi Zhang, a fourth-year PhD candidate in Politics, who is stepping down after more than two years of dedicated service to the programme.
Reflecting on his tenure, Chengzhi Zhang commented on the growth of the initiative:
鈥淥ver the past two years, it has been an honour to help organise so many fascinating workshops. I have witnessed the workshops continuously improve in both quality and quantity, developing into an influential activity that makes a genuine contribution to China studies. I have always been moved by the diversity of topics, the friendly and supportive atmosphere, and the solidarity among researchers. Participating in such a meaningful initiative is undoubtedly one of the proudest achievements of my doctoral journey.鈥�
The weekly workshops were originally established in 2019 by Dr Tao Wang (then a Postdoctoral Fellow) to provide doctoral researchers with a platform to present their work and receive constructive feedback. Since then, the sessions have become a cornerstone of MCI鈥檚 academic calendar, bringing together staff and students from across the Humanities to foster a diverse and inclusive research environment for China studies.
The initiative has seen a surge in interest in recent years, receiving nearly 100 PGR presentation proposals annually and attracting over 500 cumulative attendees per academic year.
Yixiao Zhang of the leadership team highlighted the collaborative nature of the role:
"It has been my pleasure to serve as a convenor of the MCI PGR Workshop over the past half year. Through this role, I have had the opportunity to work closely with team members and contribute to building a supportive and collaborative early-career China studies community. This experience has been both rewarding
and enriching, and I am grateful for the trust, engagement, and shared efforts of everyone involved."
The new leadership team now consists of four doctoral researchers: Yixiao Zhang (SoSS), Yuhao Ren (SEED), Jingjing Huang (SoSS), and the newly appointed Yeqi Jin (SoSS).
Speaking on her appointment, Yeqi Jin said:
鈥淚t is a great honour to join the MCI PGR workshop leadership team. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Institute and the team. I look forward to contributing to the Institute's academic and intellectual activities, and to learning from the diverse perspectives and expertise within the MCI community.鈥�
The new team is committed to continuing the workshop's legacy, aiming to curate high-quality seminars that benefit early-career scholars at the University of 野狼社区 and the broader China studies community.