Overview:

In September 2024, a senior student Duan Yingtong, who is majoring in Chinese Culture and Global Communication (CCGC) program (DCom) has presented a conference paper together with Dr. Wei Chin Wong at the 29th International Association for Intercultural Communication Studies (IAICS) Annual Conference in Opole, Poland.

The 29th International Conference on Intercultural Communication was hosted by the Faculty of Philology, University of Opole (Uniwersytet Opolski).

The IAICS annual conference lasted for three days, with the specific theme on “Intercultural Encounters: Global Perspectives-Local Contexts”, including a total of 23 panels and over 100 scholars and educators from different countries, exploring the issues on new prospects and challenges in intercultural communication studies. The panels encompassed discussions such as cultural politics, cultural conflicts, intercultural communication and teaching, and identity recognition, provided a valuable platform for all delegates in sharing and exchanging new ideas in global settings.

Dr. Wong and Duan Yingtong interact with participants during the Q&A sessions after they presented their paper. The conference panel was moderated by Robert Radziej from Poland.

Duan Yingtong’s Path to Academic Enrichment

    The topic of our conference paper is “A Catalyst for Sino-Foreign Communication: The Contributions of Edouard Chavannes and Henri Cordier to T’oung Pao Journal, 1904-1918.” It is an evolved version of my group project from the major required course (CCGC 3023: History of Western Sinology) I enrolled during the first semester of 2023/2024. The course instructor, Dr. Wei Chin Wong, gave us a task to select a specific place located within the European and American continents and started our research on discussing prominent Sinologists’ and their contribution between the 18th and the early 20th centuries. I formed a group with an exchange student from France, Guillaume Szonyi, and another Chinese student, Liu Yan. Throughout the project, three of us decided to focus our discussion on two French Sinologists, Cordier and Chavannes, and their early impacts on Sinology. We also created an academic poster and showcased our work in the Student-Curated Poster Exhibition during December 1-10, 2023; which at the end received the highest votes from the UIC community, as well as the best group project from the course instructor after we delivered the group presentation in class. Consequently, Dr. Wong suggested that we should try to present our study in an international conference setting. She encouraged and helped us to write, refine, and submit the conference application to the IAICS annual conference in Opole, Poland in April. For the first time, we submitted an application to participate in an international conference. We waited and anticipated. After two months of review process by the conference committee, we received a formal acceptance to attend the conference in Opole, Poland!

The academic poster created by Duan Yingtong and her group members, Liu Yan and Guillaume Szonyi.

    Having had the chance to participate in the IAICS conference has not only been an academic exploration for me but also a significant period of personal growth. The various conference papers and discussions presented by many delegates not only broadened my academic horizons but also exposed me to unique cultural perspectives and different research insights. Through face-to-face discussions with scholars from various countries and regions, their viewpoints not only sparked my academic inspiration but also given me a deeper understanding and contemplation of the relevant topics in current research field.

    After the closing ceremony, a professor from the Department of Linguistics at Opole University graciously led us to pay a visit to the Confucius Institute located in Opole, Poland. There were a group of foreign students learning Chinese language and culture, serving as volunteer helpers and interns at the Confucius Institute when we visited the institute. The visit has further reinforced my understanding of the value and influence of cultural exchange and international communication in promoting Chinese culture globally. As the first cohort of student majoring in CCGC program, this academic conference journey has empowered my role in this endeavor.

We interact with the volunteer helpers and interns at the Confucius Institute, Opole, Poland.

A few words by Dr. Wong:

    Yingtong was the youngest presenter and attendee in the Opole’s IAICS conference. While the conference participants were all impressed with Yingtong’s identity as a senior undergraduate student, she was treated with the same respect, professionalism and curiosity as our peers across different disciplines and experiences at the conference, which was immensely motivating to young academics. I feel proud of Yingtong, too, for willing to embrace the challenge to attend a conference at the international setting.

Yingtong Duan and Dr. Wei Chin Wong. Photographed at the University of Opole, Poland.

Photo/Word: Yingtong Duan

Proofreader: Connie LI