Twenty-first century academia faces unprecedented challenges in the face of intense technological and geo-political tendencies that require calculated investment and innovation within and across disciplines as a collective response. This watershed moment signifies a complex set of 'rebirths' of centuries-old academic, literary, and disciplinary practices. Drawing upon the symbol of the Renaissance - a concept and era representing an intense and rich period of cultural, artistic, political, and economic ‘rebirth’ in Europe, this conference explores these challenges, their inherent complexities, and our responses to them within the humanities and social sciences. The conference theme is immediately pertinent to China given its unprecedented rise in prosperity and resurgent global presence. Its relevance further extends to Beijing Normal-Hong Kong Baptist University (BNBU) which celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2025.

The conference organising committee invites abstract/poster contributions from academics, students, and administrators from the humanities and social sciences (HSS) to showcase their responses to theoretical and practical disciplinary concerns. The following HSS disciplines will be represented at the conference: literature studies, language teaching & learning, communication, social sciences, and cultural studies.