The Association for Asian Studies (AAS) Annual Conference was held from March 12‒15 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Over 3,000 Asian studies scholars and professionals from research institutions and universities around the globe were brought together, to delve into a wide array of topics across politics, economy, society, culture and science and technology. A Yenching Academy delegation led by Associate Dean Brent Haas participated in the international conference for both academic exchanges and admissions outreach.
AAS 2026 topics spanned more than 30 academic disciplines, covering the history, culture, society and politics of all countries in Asia. Yenching Academy had a booth in the education zone during the exhibition, providing a detailed introduction to its master’s program in China Studies, including its educational model, curriculum, and admissions information. The delegation engaged with Asian studies scholars from around the world to explore issues related to China studies, international education, and cross-cultural exchanges, as well as admissions partnerships and academic exchanges. During the conference, YCA delegates held in-depth discussions with scholars from Peking University, Stanford University, the University of British Columbia, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong, expanding the Academy’s international academic collaboration.
Yenching Academy is committed to fostering China studies talents with both Chinese and global perspectives, being a key factor in advancing the internationalisation of Chinese higher education. At the conference, Lu Yilin from Cohort 2024 participated in a panel discussion and delivered a presentation on issues concerning the US-Japan alliance in the semiconductor industry.
Yenching Academy has established partnerships with 115 universities and colleges from 32 countries and regions, 72 of which are Partner Universities and the remaining 43 are Cooperating Universities. The YCA delegation also paid visits to the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of California, San Diego, and the University of British Columbia, and held admissions information sessions, keeping the faculty and students of the host universities well informed and paying way for further intercollegiate cooperation.
Through its multi-level international exchange and cooperation initiatives across a wide array of sectors, Yenching Academy has gained an ever-larger international presence, attracting young talents from around the world and contributing to the international exchange and dissemination of China studies. The Academy will remain committed to advancing academic exchanges between China and the rest of the world and to cultivating cross-cultural talents with both Chinese and global perspectives.
