On June 21-23, Professor He Chengzhou, Dean of the School of Arts and the Institute of Global Humanities at NJU, and Hu Jie, Deputy Director of NJU’s Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges, attended the Summer Forum Event of Global Humanities Network (GHN) in the United Kingdom. The event was hosted by the University of Cambridge and welcomed representatives from various esteemed institutions across the globe. Chris Young, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Arts at the University of Cambridge, chaired the forum.

Established in 2020, GHN is committed to creating a high-level international academic platform for the global advancement of humanities and arts, and promoting the interdisciplinary research in new liberal arts. The network is composed of top universities from around the world, including the University of Cambridge, Nanjing University and Fudan University in China, Ayutthaya University in India, the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, Diego Portales University in Chile, and Sabanci University in Turkey. Together, these universities collaborate to explore ongoing hot topics in the field of humanities through interdisciplinary, cross-regional, and cross-cultural interactions. In the future, GHN aims to establish a global education and research network among its member universities, and facilitate research and teaching projects in various regions with different cultural backgrounds.

On the forum, Prof. He introduced NJU’s research accomplishments and future plans in the study of global humanities. He also discussed the theoretical framework, definition, research methodologies, and disciplinary objectives of “Global Humanities.” He emphasized that “Global Humanities” should explore theoretical themes with universal significance, such as the shared future of mankind and coexistence in the context of globalization. To achieve this, he advocated adopting a fresh perspective that goes beyond traditional disciplinary confines,

Hu Jie discussed the significance of global humanities research for higher education. She proposed that the GHN should place a strong emphasis on nurturing global talents who embrace the principles of global humanities and uphold the shared values of humanity.

During their visit, Prof. He and Deputy Director Hu also engaged in extensive conversations with other representatives. Chris Young, and Hans van de Ven, Professor of Modern Chinese History at Cambridge, both expressed their commitment to enhancing the cooperation between NJU and GHN in the research of global humanities and the promotion of global education in the future.

GHN also announced that the first Global Humanities Summer School will be hosted by NJU in 2024.

Writer: Yi Wenfei

Editor: Guo Ankang