Organisation & Activities
The creation of this new Centre was one of a number of Commonwealth Government-ANU initiatives negotiated during 2009 and formalized in the first half of 2010. A Commonwealth-ANU Agreement governing the centre, and providing initial funding for it, was signed in mid June 2010. Basic operations of the Centre were initiated in late July. The process of appointing staff and launching research and public programs is under way. A Centre Board of Management at ANU and with membership from other Australian institutions has also begun its preliminary operations (see Management Group). Contacts with institutions in China, North America and Europe have been initiated. We are also in the process of appointing an Advisory Board.
In the coming months the Centre's activities will unfold in keeping with its overall founding vision. The various research and outreach initiatives of the Centre, including research programs (and fellowships), scholarships and other programs will be announced as they are launched.
Research
An initial group of Research Panels and Themes covering disciplines and areas (from the humanities to the social sciences) will bring scholars together in new research collaborations on China's society, history, culture, economic change, and the like. We will also be interested in supporting work on China in the Pacific, China in South-east and East Asia, as well as work on broader global issues relevant to the Centre's interests. Each panel will develop research fellowships, post-doctorate and PhD programs. An initial number of post-doctoral positions have been advertised and a fellowship program will be launched in 2011.
Education
The Research Panels will engage in developing new educational programs related to China, while CIW will also develop specially tailored courses for government and business. The Centre aims particularly to stimulate interest in the study of China by working with other key research/teaching institutions and scholars in Australia, and where feasible international institutions. The Centre will use these connections to identify and support upcoming generations of China scholars, specialists and China-literate young people.
Outreach
The CIW Outreach Program will serve to enhance practical exchanges with other Australian tertiary institutions as well as international bodies. It will provide fellowships and support for undergraduate and graduate scholars to come to Canberra and utilize ANU resources for their research. We will also plan programs for public intellectuals, journalists, those in government service and in the private sector. The Outreach Program will have a specific group devoted to working with government and another involved in public events such as arts and writers festivals and festivals of ideas.
Publications
We have initiated an e-project with colleagues in Beijing and are negotiating relationships with Australian and US academic publishers related to a series of books and our annual China Profile.
Building
We have acquired the services of the Beijing-based architect Gerald Szeto of Mo Atélier Szeto Beijing to undertake the design of the new CIW building. This signature building will occupy a prominent position on the ANU campus and will give expression to the vision for the Centre, one that is related to creative and integrative research with a high public profile.
Initial Activities
Although the Centre was only announced in April 2010 and funding has only been available since July, we have already initiated a number of projects and activities:
CIW-CICIR Australia China Bilateral Relationship Report: In April 2010, CIW initiated a series of formal discussions with the leading Chinese government think tank, the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations (CICIR 中国现代国际关系研究院). This workshop in Beijing, and a follow-up workshop held in early August in Australia, is aimed at developing a joint group that will write the first Report on the Australia-China Relationship. The CIW-CICIR relationship was formalized in late August. With the participation of academics and thinkers the report will be composed over the following year and cover major aspects of the relationship. It will be co-authored and presented to both governments.
CIW-Danwei Collaboration: Danwei Media (www.danwei.org) is a leading Chinese media studies site based in Beijing. We have a formal collaboration whereby Danwei provides monthly briefings and a written overview of developments in China related to our Research Themes. We plan to use these reports to develop an annual China Profile event early each year in Australia and the US, as well as a related publication. We are also presently negotiating a supplementary research agreement with ChinaBase in Beijing.
CIW at ANU: An event at the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo was held on 17 September 2010, with members of CIW, US scholars, Chinese colleagues, Chinese and international media, business and government figures to introduce the Centre and its aims. The event also featured the work of the New York photographer Lois Conner and excerpts from the Australian-Beijing Opera, 'Passion', written by Linda Jaivin.
CIW-Si-mian Research Institute (华东师范大学思勉人文高等研究院) Workshop, Suzhou, China, 18-20 September 2010: A workshop involving Chinese scholars working on media, social change, urban studies, history, thought and culture aimed at developing and refining some of our key Research Panels. During this workshop we also discussed our plans for the book series 'Thinking China' aimed at introducing to western readers leading Chinese thinkers in areas including contemporary thought, the environment, social change, the middle class and Chinese business.
