The 5th Forum of European Researchers in China, co-organized by the EU Delegation to China, EURAXESS China, and the Europe-China Partnership Facility (ECPF), recently convened 13 European scholars based in China for a series of academic exchanges in Beijing. The forum served as an important platform for strengthening research connections and fostering interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars working across cultural and institutional contexts.
As part of the forum program, participants visited The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies (TBC). Led by Executive Director Simon Koo, the visit included a guided tour of the TBC library, featuring a rich multilingual collection of academic resources. Scholars were also introduced to various research support services and international funding opportunities available through the center. The visit provided an in-depth understanding of TBC’s role in supporting international scholars and promoting cross-cultural academic exchange.
The visiting researchers represented leading institutions such as NYU Shanghai, Duke Kunshan University, and Zhejiang University, among others. They actively engaged in discussions on TBC’s academic initiatives and shared insights into ongoing research in China. Former diplomats with long-standing experience in China also joined the event, contributing diverse global perspectives to the dialogue.
Topics discussed during the visit included joint research projects, funding mechanisms, faculty exchange and research fellowships, and the development of international academic partnerships. These conversations highlighted the increasing relevance of sustained collaboration between European researchers and Chinese institutions, especially in addressing shared global challenges through interdisciplinary approaches.
During the open discussion session, Dr. Tomasz Ewertowski from Shanghai International Studies University introduced his editorial series, Anthem Studies in Encounters Between Peripheral Regions. The series explores connections between peripheral regions across global systems, with a particular focus on East-Central and Southeast Europe in relation to East and Southeast Asia during the colonial era. Dr. Ewertowski invited scholars to contribute original, theoretically grounded, and critically engaged research, with opportunities for publication. Further details were made available via the series’ official website.
The visit to TBC underscored the center’s ongoing commitment to international engagement and academic exchange. As a hub for dialogue between Chinese and international scholars, TBC continues to play a vital role in fostering mutual understanding, directing cross-border research, and supporting the global academic community.
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This past summer at The Beijing Center (TBC), students from Marquette University took TBC’s Chinese language courses for college credit. TBC’s program offers an intensive, immersive curriculum in the heart of Beijing.
This past summer in China, TBC connected students from Notre Dame School of Manhattan and Xavier High School with some of Beijing’s local elementary students. The young children were shy at first, but they eventually loved interacting with their new American friends.
Last summer, The Beijing Center (TBC) hosted Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School in China.
This past summer, The Beijing Center (TBC) accompanied Loyola Blakefield High School, Boston College High School, Xavier High School, and Notre Dame High School to tour multiple famous attractions in China, including Beijing’s Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, and Great Wall.