As you may know, I took up the directorship of David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies in July. Taking this opportunity, I would like to extend my appreciation to you for your deep commitment to LEWI throughout the years.
LEWI is an international consortium aiming to enhance institutional research collaboration and academic exchange. During the term of the former director, Professor Chan Kwok-bun, LEWI has made a great contribution in enhancing research collaboration among member institutions. On behalf of LEWI, I would like to acknowledge the significant contributions made by Professor Chan in the past few years. I shall continue to build on that strength while planning to renew LEWI's function and role in the consortium.
With the opening of China, LEWI's role as a bridge to China and a meeting place for the East and the West gradually loses its significance. However, there has emerged a new role for LEWI to play. Hong Kong has undergone dramatic changes over the past 20 years with a new, service economy replacing the old manufacturing structure; most if not all of its manufacturing industries having moved to locations within a 100 km radius north of Hong Kong. This transformation has brought Hong Kong an unprecedented economic growth and prosperity, revitalizing Hong Kong's standing in global economy and competition. I believe Hong Kong's transformation could serve as a prototype for the rest of the world, especially to countries that are experiencing similar kind of changes. People who are interested in researching the situation of Hong Kong and its surrounding region must come to Hong Kong, as most of primarily materials are located in Hong Kong, and thus, LEWI has an important role to play.
With this idea in mind, I propose to identify multifarious research themes that could interest all members to participate. Such themes will undergird the activities of LEWI and each theme will run for a number of years. This way, sustainable research collaboration could be built and the original idea of LEWI as a meeting place could be fulfilled. I will soon write a discussion paper inviting you to suggest themes that could generate wide interest and participation. I will bring them to the next Executive Committee for discussion.
Since my appointment I have made two visits to our members. In August, I visited Prof. John Ingleson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for International and Development, at the University of Western Sydney and Prof. David Hayward, LEWI representative of Swinburne University of Technology. In October, I visited University of Amsterdam and Lund University. At University of Amsterdam I met with President Karel van der Toorn and at Lund University, I discussed the new direction of LEWI with Professor Bjorn Wittenmark, Vice Rector for Research and International. The senior management and LEWI representative of these member universities were very supportive of my proposals to further enhance LEWI's function in the consortium.
In late November I will visit three more members – Simon Fraser, Baylor and Mercer. I am looking forward to this trip to North America, which will give me the chance to meet the senior management of these members and to collect their ideas on the future development of LEWI.
Finally, I wish to thank you once again for your continuous support of LEWI.
With my best regards,
Tsoi Ah-Chung
Director
David C. Lam Institute for East-West Studies
Vice-President (Research and Institutional Advancement)
Hong Kong Baptist University
About Professor Tsoi Ah-Chung
Professor Tsoi Ah-Chung ( 蔡亞從 ) studied electronic engineering at Hong Kong Technical College and Control Engineering at University of Salford, England. He taught electrical engineering at the University of Auckland and the University of New South Wales respectively, before serving as Professor of Electrical Engineering at the University of Queensland, Australia. Later he was appointed Dean, Faculty of Informatis, and then Pro-Vice Chancellor (Information Technology and Communications) of the University of Wollongong. He served as the Executive Director, Mathematics, Information and Communication Sciences, Australian Research Council (counterpart of National Science Foundation in US) for two years. He also served as Director, e-Research Centre, Monash University. In April 2007, Professor Tsoi took up the position of Vice President for Research and Institutional Advancement, Hong Kong Baptist University.
Professor Tsoi is a renowned specialist in artificial intelligence and in particular, neural networks and fuzzy systems. Recently Professor Tsoi's work has extended to the application of neural networks to graph domains and to world wide web searching, ranking and sub-graph matching problems. He is also very familiar with the traditions of research in social sciences, and arts and humanities, having done some research in theology.
Professor Tsoi Ah-Chung, new LEWI director
Recent Activities
Joint Seminar with Academy of Visual Arts
Mr. Wucius Wong, artist, “East West Journey” (24 October 2007)
The event was jointly organized by the Academy of Visual Arts and LEWI on 24 October 2007. The Hong Kong leading artist Wucius Wong ( 王無邪 ) was invited to share with students and the general public his experience in art creation.
Mr. Wucius Wong is a leading figure in the Hong Kong art scene. He is among the first artists to introduce Western modernist theories and concepts to Hong Kong. Over the past 50 years, he has made significant contributions to the development of Hong Kong art, art criticism and art education.
The seminar was divided into two parts. The first part was a student presentation while the second part was a session with Mr. Wong. In the student presentation session, students introduced Mr. Wong and his works. In the hour that followed, Mr. Wong shared his experience in art creation, which is a fusion of the East and the West. In his art creation, Mr. Wong integrates Western design concepts with classical Chinese ink paintings, bringing the very traditional Chinese artistic form into a new ground in which nature turns into a kaleidoscope of fragments, surreal and intricate. The seminar was attended by more than 60 people.
Mr. Wucius Wong's seminar was held on 24 October at the Academy of Visual Arts
Mr. Wucius Wong's seminar was held on 24
October at the Academy of Visual Arts
Upcoming Activities
Joint seminar with Center for Media and Communication Research
Prof. Lee Chin-Chuan, Chair Professor of Communication at City University of Hong Kong & Professor Emeritus of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota; “Top-Down and Bottom-Up Views of Ideological Diversity: Comparing U. S. and Chinese Media Systems” (7 December 2007)
LEWI and the Center for Media and Communication Research, HKBU, will co-organise a seminar on 7 December 2007. At the seminar, Professor Lee Chin-Chuan, Chair Professor of Communication at City University of Hong Kong, will give a presentation based on his research paper on the U.S. and Chinese media systems. Below is an abstract of his paper:
Comparative studies of media systems are rare. Based on what comparativists would call "the method of difference", this paper proposes two models of political economy to compare the ideological diversity of the U.S. and Chinese media systems in relation to their larger political, economic, and cultural contexts. The U.S. media fit the hegemonic model while the Chinese media fit the propaganda model. If the radical (top-down) perspective has great emancipatory potential in advanced capitalist democracies, the liberal (bottom-up) perspective is relevant to the media under authoritarian domination. The “ideological packages” of elite media on the bilateral relations, along with the role of the writers and audiences, are compared. By synthesizing the author's work in the context of the general literature, this comparison aims to dissolve both totalistic and binary views that are commonly held.
Meeting of the Executive Committee of LEWI and IIBD
Members of the Executive Committee of LEWI and IIBD will meet at Hong Kong Baptist University on 29 February 2008 to discuss future activities of the two institutes. The one-day meeting will be divided into two sessions - one on LEWI and IIBD joint business and another on LEWI business alone. Discussion items for the joint session will include the 2008 workshop on “Innovation and Entrepreneurship” and the 2009 conference on “Chinatown and Beyond” while the major focus of the LEWI session will be on the future direction of the institute and themes for future LEWI activities.
Resident Graduate Scholarship Program
New Students in Fall 2007
In Fall 2007, we welcome three new students to LEWI to participate in the Resident Graduate Scholarship (RGS) Program:
Shen Benqiu ( 沈本秋 ), Ph.D. candidate, School of International Relations and Public Affairs, Fudan University . Thesis topic: “Hong Kong Issues: The United States Policies Since 1980s”. Field supervisor at HKBU: Prof. Ting Wai, Department of Government and International Studies.
" I began my university life in 1994. After receiving my B.A. in English Language and Literature in 1998 at Changsha Railway University, I studied my master's degree in Applied Linguistics at Central South University. In 2005 I was admitted to a doctoral program at Fudan University. Currently I am doing my research in international relations, with a focus on U.S. policies to Hong Kong. I want to examine U.S. policy-making process, including the roles played by governmental bodies, the influences of social forces and domestic politics. With the help of my supervisor in Hong Kong, I am sure I can accomplish my study successfully. "
Liang Tingting ( 梁婷婷 ), Ph.D. candidate, College of Literature and Journalism, Sichuan University . Thesis topic: “Selection, Expression and Intercultural Communication: Promotional Television Documentaries of Chinese Regions”. Field supervisor at HKBU: Prof. Huang Yu, Department of Journalism.
" I am Liang Tingting, a Ph.D candidate of Sichuan University. I obtained my bachelor's degree in journalism from Guizhou University in 2003. In Fall 2003, I was admitted to the College of Literature and Journalism of Sichuan University to a five-year doctoral program on communication. My research interests include publicity, promotional activities and visual communication. I am now working on my doctoral dissertation, which focuses on the promotional documentaries of Chinese cities. My study will compare the situation of Hong Kong and mainland China by making use of theories and methods of visual study. Here I would like to thank LEWI for giving me this opportunity to study in Hong Kong and Prof. Huang Yu for being my supervisor. It is a great honor for me to participate in the LEWI RGS program in HKBU, and I will make good use of the abundant academic resources here. This experience will be very valuable for my future study. "
Long Minghui ( 龍明慧 ), Ph.D. candidate, School of Foreign Languages, Sun Yat-sen Univeristy . Thesis topic: “Approaching the Prototype of Translation: Application of Western Prototype Theory to the Study of English-Chinese Translation”. Field supervisor at HKBU: Dr. Tan Zaixi, Department of English Language and Literature.
" I obtained my M.A. degree in Linguistics at Southwest China Normal University in 2005, and am now a Ph.D. student in Translation Studies at Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China. My research interests are linguistics and translation studies and my current research project is “Approaching the Prototype of Translation: Application of Western Prototype Theory to the Study of English-Chinese Translation” ."
From right: Long Minghui, Liang Tingting & Shen Benqiu
Recent
Visits to/by Member Institution
Visit to Four Member Institutions in Australia and Europe (August & October 2007)
Professor Tsoi Ah-Chung, Director of LEWI, recently visited four member institutions in Australia and Europe. The purpose of his visit is to enhance the relations between LEWI and its member institutions, especially to revitalize LEWI's function and role in the international consortium.
In August, Professor Tsoi visited Swinburne University of Technology and University of Western Sydney. At Swinburne University of Technology, Professor Tsoi met with Professor David Hayward, Dean of the Faculty of Business and Enterprise of Swinburne University and LEWI representative at Swinburne. On 28 August, Professor Tsoi visited University of Western Sydney. Professor Tsoi was received by Professor John Ingleson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Development).
On 8-9 October, Professor Tsoi visited two members in Europe – Lund University and University of Amsterdam. At Lund University, he met with Professor Bjorn Wittenmarnk, Vice Rector for Research and International, Professor Henrik Hofvendahl, International Program Officer and Ms. Sofi Shen, Asian Relations Officer. Professor Tsoi discussed the new direction of LEWI with Professor Wittenmank, who welcomed the suggestion and foresaw a closer participation of Lund in a revitalized LEWI. On 9 October, Professor Tsoi visited University of Amsterdam (UvA), where he met with Dr. Karel van der Toorn, President of UvA and other faculty members including Drs Mariette Didirich, Policy Advisor, Department of Academic Affairs and Professor Stefan Landsberger, Professor of Contemporary Chinese Culture. Professor Tsoi shared with them his idea of revitalizing LEWI by adopting a thematic approach to organizing activities. Professor van der Toorn supported the idea but hope that LEWI would not abandon the current approach of catering to wide spectrum exchange.
In late November, Professor Tsoi will pay another visit to three member institutions in North America, including Simon Fraser University, Baylor University and Mercer University.
Visit by Mercer University (4 October 2007)
Dr. Eric Spears, Director of International Program and Dr. Thomas Tyner, Director of English Language Institute & International Programs, Mercer University , visited LEWI. Our Associate Director, Dr. Emilie Yeh, had a meeting with Dr. Spears and Dr. Tyner where they discussed areas with which Mercer and LEWI could collaborate.
Visit by Ohio University (1 November 2007)
Dr. Charles Bird, Vice Provost for University Outreach, Dr. Marsha Ham, Executive Director of Lifelong and Distance Learning and Dr. Thomas Shostak, former Executive Director of Lifelong and Distance Learning , visited LEWI on 1 November. Professor Tsoi Ah-Chung, Director of LEWI and Dr. Emilie Yeh, Associate Director of LEWI, had a meeting with the delegation. At the meeting, important issues were discussed which include the restructuring of the administration of Ohio University and the new direction of LEWI.
From left: Dr. Charles Bird,
Prof. Tsoi Ah-Chung, Dr. Marsha Ham,
Dr. Emilie Yeh, Dr. Thomas Shostak
LEWI
Publications
Mr. Chan Yat Yu's Poetry Collection
LEWI supported the publication of a poetry collection by renowned Hong Kong poet, Mr. Chan Yat Yu ( 陳一豫 ). The collection, published in October by Infolink Publishing Ltd. ( 匯智出版社 ), a prestigious local press specialized in the publication of academic books, is a compilation of 500 Chinese poems spanning 50 years. Ms. Elizabeth Cheung, Program Officer of LEWI, is the executive editor of the collection.
Mr. Chan Yat Yu is a noted poet in Hong Kong whose work often appears in local Chinese newspapers. His poetry is a reflection of his deepest personal feelings and reflections on the incidents of his life. He was previously language specialist of HKBU Communication and Public Relations Office.
Progress of Conference and Workshop Proceeding
Proceedings of the Conference on “Migrations between East and West: Normalizing the Periphery” (held on 6 April 2006)
The production of the proceedings now enters the final stage. Copyediting and transcription of the presentations were completed in October and it is expected that the proceedings would come out in December 2007.
Proceedings of the Workshop on Higher Education East and West: Cooperation and Competition” (held on 5 October 2006)
Dr. Kjell Nilsson, convener of the workshop, has solicited all the papers from the panelists. He is currently writing a report on a survey on internalization, the findings of which he presented at the workshop. It is expected that the proceedings would come out in the first quarter of 2008.
Working Paper Series
The LEWI Working Paper Series is an endeavour of LEWI to foster dialogues among institutions and scholars in the field of East-West studies. It was launched in April 2002 and serves as a forum for the speedy and informal exchange of ideas as scholars and academic institutions attempt to grapple with issues of an inter-cultural and global nature. Sixty-seven papers have been published so far and we welcome papers in any academic field related to East-West studies and from authors within and outside of our LEWI consortium. For further information, please contact Miss Hidy Ng at hidyng@hkbu.edu.hk or visit http://www.hkbu.edu.hk/~lewi/publications.html#4 for details about ordering and submitting a manuscript.
Recent Publications in the Series (abstracts are available on our website):
66. Yiu Fai CHOW, University of Amsterdam , Fear or Fearless: Martial Arts Films and Dutch-Chinese Masculinities , English/34 pages, August 2007.
67. CHEN Xiangyang, New York University , Technologizing the Vernacular: Cantonese Opera Films through The Legend of Purple Hairpin , English/31 pages, September 2007.
