ACTS 10 & FASIC 9 Conferences
The 10th Australia-China Transcultural Studies Symposium (ACTS10) and 9th Foundation for Australian Studies in China Conference (FASIC9), jointly organised by the Institute for Australian and Chinese Arts and Culture (IAC) at Western Sydney University and the Foundation for Australian Studies in China (FASIC) in partnership with Beijing Foreign Studies University, took place from 3 October to 6 October 2024 at the Parramatta City Campus of Western Sydney University and were a resounding success.
The Joint Reception of the two conferences was held on 3 October 2024. Western Sydney University newly graduated Indigenous student Nicholas Howie conducted a very special, heartwarming and thoughtful Welcome to Country. The Reception, chaired by Professor Jing Han, Director of IAC, welcomed over 100 distinguished guests from government and non-government agencies, universities, arts, culture and educational organisations, and the Australian studies and transcultural studies community. Professor Barney Glover AO, Emeritus Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, now Commissioner of Jobs and Skills Australia, gave the opening speech, congratulating the new Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University, Distinguished Professor George Williams AO, on taking the University to new heights. The co-organisation of these conferences is the very outcome of Professor Glover’s visit to Beijing Foreign Studies University as Vice-Chancellor of WSU in October 2023 and the success of Western Sydney University’s international partnerships. Dr Nicolene Murdoch, Pro Vice-Chancellor for Global Partnerships and Transnational Education, attended the Reception representing Western Sydney University. The keynote address, entitled Famous Last Words: Australian Studies in China, 1984-2064, was given by Emeritus Professor Nicholas Jose of Adelaide University, a longstanding contributor to IAC and WSU and who is renowned for his expertise in arts and cultural exchanges between Australia and China. A special video message was recorded for the occasion by Professor JIA Wenjian, President of Beijing Foreign Studies University.
Over two and a half days, more than 80 speakers and panellists from seven universities in Australia and 15 universities from mainland China and Taiwan came together for the two conferences. The presentations and papers covered a great diversity of topics and were of very high quality. This three-way collaboration tripled the impact of the two conferences. Their huge success proved how important and valuable it is to bring together researchers, scholars, and subject experts from China and Australia to discuss and share latest research, enabling academic and people-to-people connections between the two countries to flourish.
Electronic programs of the two conferences can be accessed HERE: ACTS10 and FASIC 9.
Click here to read an article on the two conferences by Prof. Jocelyn Chey that appeared in Pearls and Irritations on 12 October and click here to read her conference report.
A PDF of the Joint Reception Keynote Address by Prof. Nicholas Jose entitled Famous Last Words is available here.
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