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Knowledge Transfer

As academics, we are interested in how our scholarly expertise may be used in a variety of practical ways for the benefit of society generally. This is often referred to as 'knowledge transfer'.

The information below provides an overview of the different kinds of knowledge transfer activities that members of our Department have been involved in.

These activities have been classified under broad subject or disciplinary themes.

Arts, Culture and Language

'100 Words', a cultural exchange project: Workshop at Birmingham University, for a group of Chinese English language teachers who are here for a short period of training. They are from Guangzhou, which is twin cities with Birmingham. We aim to introduce non-conventional approach to language learning (Dr Li Ruru, June 2009)

  • Public talk on 16th-17th century Chinese garden designers to the 'History of Gardens and Landscapes' seminar series (open to the public) at the Institute for Historical Research at the University of London (Dr Alison Hardie, May 2009)
  • Participation in artistic and culture Groups of 'Opera Encounter; Common Voice', a 2-year cultural exchange project with China, sponsored by the EU, aims for a better understanding between the two sides (Dr Li Ruru, 2009)
  • Establishment of the Association of Speakers of Chinese as a Second Language (ASCSL) and development of its website (www.chinesespeakers.org), which went live in June 2008. The ASCSL represents the professional interests and social networking needs of those who have learned Mandarin as a second language to use it in their workplace. It provides information on postgraduate study, language top-up courses and job vacancies. (Dr Frances Weightman, together with Mr Giles Blackburne of the China Britain Business Council CBBC, 2008-)
  • 'Beijing Opera Actress-training in the 1930s', a one-hour programme for Shanghai Oriental TV Station, Theatre Channel Shanghai Dongfang Xiju Pindao (Dr Li Ruru, August 2008)
  • Lectures on Chinese Gardens for Christies Education, London (Dr Alison Hardie, May 2008)
  • Talk on Chinese gardens to Japanese Garden Society, Kew Gardens, London (Dr Alison Hardie, October 2007)

Politics, International Relations and Economy

  • Submission of evidence to the House of Lords Sub-Committee C (Foreign Affairs, Defence and Development Policy) on 'The European Union and China' (Prof Flemming Christiansen, April 2009)
  • Project member of the Asian Development Bank's 'Institutions for Asian Regionalism' project (Prof Christopher Dent, 2009)
  • Consultant for the European Commission on the evaluation of the European Union’s development co-operation programme with Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) during the period 1996-2008 (Prof Joern Dosch, 2008-2009)
  • Team Reviewer / Advisor on Chile’s free trade agreement policy as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) forum’s Individual Action Plan (IAP) process, Santiago, Chile, (Prof Christopher Dent, April 2008)
  • Advisor on Australia's new free trade agreement policy, Australian Parliament, Department of the Senate (Prof Christopher Dent, 2008).
  • Trainer in an annual Summer School on democracy and good governance (funded by the German Government) for Indonesian government officials and military officers in Bandung, Indonesia (Prof Joern Dosch, 2006-)
  • Published submitted evidence, House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee: Seventh Report on East Asia, China - Europe - US Relations (Prof Christopher Dent, August 2006)
  • Research Presentation, New Free Trade Agreements in the Asia-Pacific: Implications for the UK and EU, Department of Trade and Industry, London (now Department of Business, Innovation and Skills) (Prof Christopher Dent, May 2006)
  • Advisor to the German Foreign Office and Ministry of Economic Co-operation and Development on Germany's relations with Southeast Asia (Prof Joern Dosch, 2005-)
  • Invited Testimony Witness to the US – China Economic and Security Review Commission, US Congress: presenting analysis on 'China's Economic Relationship with the European Union', Dirksen Senate Building, Washington DC (Prof Christopher Dent, July 2005)
  • Web portal on Cambodia (http://liportal.inwent.org/kambodscha.html) created for the German government-affiliated donor organisation INWENT and has continuously updated the website since then (Prof Joern Dosch, 2004)

Development

  • Participated in BBC Radio 4 'Woman's Hour' debate on the social consequences of the Chinese one child policy (Dr Jieyu Liu,  26 January 2010)
  • Addressing a Policy Advisory Group seminar 'Taming the Dragon? Defining Africa's interests at the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) - on FOCAC, China and the West in Africa'. Involved African policy makers, inclduing those attending FOCAC IV in Cairo, as well as African and Western scholars. (Dr Kweku Ampiah, July 2009)
  • Research advisor for German development aid agency (GTZ), 'Good Practices of Sub-Regional Co-operation in Europe and Asia: Implications for the 'Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) (Prof Christopher Dent, 2009)
  • Research advisor for German development aid agency (GTZ), 'Brunei-Indonesia-Malaysia-Philippines East ASEAN Growth Area (BIMP-EAGA) and Regionalisation in East Asia' (Prof Christopher Dent, 2008)
  • Participated in 'Question Time' debate on Japan in Africa organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society and filmed and broadcast by BEN TV (free to air in UK via Sky) (Dr Kweku Ampiah, March 2009)
  • Participated in a workshop of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) hosted by the Faculty of Development and Humanities of China Agricultural University in Beijing on 3 September 2008, discussing the NGO sectors' priorities for sustainable development (Prof Flemming Christiansen, September 2008)

Environment and Geography

  • Participated in a workshop of International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED) hosted by the Faculty of Development and Humanities of China Agricultural University in Beijing on 3 September 2008, discussing the NGO sectors' priorities for sustainable development (Prof Flemming Christiansen, September 2008)

Social Policy

  • Giving advice to North Yorkshire Police on China-related financial matters for use in a case of confiscating proceeds from criminal activity (Prof Flemming Christiansen, April 2009)

Public Agency (general)

  • Presentation on 'present situation of Mongolian Politics' to a seminar/briefing on the 'Future of Mongolia' at the Houses of Parliament (Dr Judith Nordby, July 2009)
  • Appointed Member of the Steering Goup for Yorkshire/Humber region, China Britain Business Council (Dr Frances Weightman, 2009)
  • Appointed Member of British Academy’s East Asia Panel. One of eight Panel Members that will assist the British Academy in establishing strategic policies to advance East Asia studies in the UK and beyond (Prof Christopher Dent, 2009)
  • Lecture on 'How to Gain Access to the Community and Communicate Effectively with Interviewees', Nankai University (Dr Heather Zhang, November 2008)