Foreign Students of Chinese Descent: Self-Expression, Identity Formation, and Political Involvement
On December 16th and 17th, 2025, a series of insightful conferences will delve into the experiences and identity formation of Chinese overseas students. Although no specific conferences are exclusively focused on this topic during these dates, related events around the same period offer valuable discussions.
One such conference is the International Conference on Science & Technology organised by the Scientific & Technical Research Association (STRA) in Bali. This conference primarily covers science and technology topics, with vernacular sessions available in Chinese. The key speakers for this event are yet to be announced.
Another relevant conference is the Pure & Applied Sciences International Conference also organised by STRA in Bangkok. This conference focuses on science and technology themes, but the keynote speakers have not been detailed yet.
The International Conference on Social Science & Humanities in Bali, organised by the Social Science & Humanities Research Association (SSHRA), could provide more relevant insights into overseas student identity and experience issues through social sciences. The keynote speakers for this conference are not named specifically.
For conferences more directly engaging with Chinese students' cultural identity and thematic concerns, the earliest is the East Asian Studies Graduate Student Conference at Arizona State University on January 16-17, 2026. This conference explores biopolitics, governance, and media in Chinese and Sinophone cultures, which might encompass student identity formation. The keynote speakers for this event are Dr. Andrea Bachner and Dr. Nicholas Morrow Williams.
Dr. Cora Lingling Xu, who leads the Network for Research into Chinese Education Mobilities, focuses on international students' settlement experiences, identity, and intergenerational privilege transmitted through time. Her recent book "The Time Inheritors" offers ethnographic insight into Chinese students' overseas educational journeys and identity formation, but it is not tied to a December 16-17 conference.
During these days, several panels will discuss various aspects of Chinese overseas students' experiences. Panel 3, chaired by Chloé Froissart, will focus on Overseas Students' Identity Formation. Speakers include Liu Jiaqi, who will discuss opportunistic diplomacy: diaspora youths and the mirage of Global China, Zhou Yunyun, who will speak about feminist and queer activism among Chinese overseas students in the UK and France, and Wu Yidi, who will discuss St. John's in Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Panel 4, chaired by Konstantinos Tsimonis, will address Political pressure and state-led mobilisation. Speakers include Anthony Spires, who will discuss Queer Chinese diasporic activism, Jiang Shanshan, who will speak about Chinese students' self-censorship and attitudes about social activism, and Dimitar Gueorguiev and Ma Yingyi, who will discuss insights from Chinese International Students in New York Universities. Jérome Doyon will also present a talk on cultivating Chinese students abroad: the CSSA, the State and the Party.
Other panels include a discussion on the transition of Chinese international students from high schools in China to universities abroad, led by Claire Hao, and a debate on work among Chinese students, chaired by Tang Lingyue and Jean-Louis Rocca. Han Rongbin and Wendy Zhou will discuss Chinese overseas youths' positioning amid geo-political tensions, while Claudia Astarita and Wang Simeng will discuss Chinese students' mobilities to France and Europe.
In conclusion, while no specific conferences exclusively on Chinese students’ overseas experiences and identity on those December dates are currently available, related events offer valuable discussions on the topic. These events provide a platform for scholars, activists, and students to share their insights and experiences, fostering a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities faced by Chinese overseas students.
- The International Conference on Social Science & Humanities, while not directly focusing on education and self-development, might provide valuable insights into the topic, considering it delves into identity formation and overseas student experiences through social sciences.
- Online education, though not explicitly mentioned in the given text, could potentially be a valuable resource for Chinese overseas students seeking to engage in discussions about their experiences, as it allows for global access to scholarly conversations despite geographical limitations.
