The Global Governance & International Development Cooperation Network brings together a diverse community of scholars, policy experts, and development practitioners committed to advancing more inclusive and equitable approaches to global governance.
Co-hosted by: Grandview Institution and the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS), University of Melbourne
Overview
This academic forum brought together scholars from across universities and research institutions to examine China-related issues against the backdrop of the evolving international and regional landscape. Discussions focused on developments in the Middle East and their implications for regional security, energy cooperation, economic relations, and global affairs, drawing on perspectives from international relations, area studies, and global governance.
Chair
Dr Sow Keat Tok (Asia Institute, University of Melbourne)
Speakers and discussants
Professor Nick Bisley — Deputy Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University
Professor Baogang He — Alfred Deakin Chair, Deakin University
Professor Shen Dingli — Director, Centre for American Studies, Grandview Institution
Other invited scholars
The forum served as a valuable platform for academic exchange between Chinese and Australian scholars on issues of shared regional and global concern.
Location: Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne (Hybrid)
Theme: Youth and Civil Society
Co-sponsors: Research Cluster on Asian Civil Society (Asia Institute) and the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS)
Supported by: Ford Foundation
Overview
The fifth biennial Civil Society in Asia conference convened scholars and practitioners to explore the pivotal role of young people in shaping Asia’s future. The programme addressed three core pillars: youth activism and democratic governance; youth in climate action; and AI and the empowerment of young women.
Highlights
Agenda-setting address by Professor Akihiro Ogawa (University of Melbourne)
Keynote by Professor Ming-sho Ho (National Taiwan University): “Be Water: The 2019 Hong Kong Protests from an Actionist Sociology Perspective”
Sessions examining the “Asian Monsoon” of youth-led movements across Thailand, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong
Panels on climate justice in the Global South and gender inclusion in the Fourth Industrial Revolution
Each presenter contributed concrete policy recommendations and civic techniques aimed at embedding youth inclusion into global governance. The conference concluded with a strategy meeting charting the future of the Asian Civil Society Research Network (ACSRN).
Location: Conference Room 158-3-321, University of Melbourne
Organised by: Jessie Xu, in collaboration with Transparency International Australia
Overview
This day-long research workshop brought together researchers from the University of Melbourne, La Trobe University, and Transparency International. The morning session featured presentations by the Chile and Zambia chapters on their research findings, followed by an afternoon roundtable (3:30–5:00 PM) offering an informal Q&A and open discussion with the visiting chapters.
Hosted by: Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS), Asia Institute, University of Melbourne
Co-organised with: Hong Kong Baptist University
Supported by: University of International Business and Economics, Faculty of Arts (University of Melbourne), Ford Foundation, CNKI, and Juneyao Air
Participants: More than 300 from over 15 countries
Overview: The 2025 Chinese Studies Association of Australia Biennial Conference was a landmark gathering for the field. Under the theme “China Within and Beyond,” it offered a rich platform for interdisciplinary dialogue on the changing contours of China and China studies, drawing scholars across language and linguistics, anthropology, literature, geography, history, sociology, political science, economics, business, and law. The breadth of disciplines and international representation made it a standout success in fostering cross-border scholarly exchange.
