New Academic Collection International Communication Research Launched  

Contributed by: School of Journalism and Communication, Jinan University  

Article: Liu Bingjie  

Release date: November 24, 2025  

Editor: Li Weimiao

The 2025 Academic Annual Conference of the Jinan University Institute of International Communication opened on November 23 at the university’s Panyu campus. Focusing on “Global Communication Transformation and Chinese Narrative Innovation in the Intelligent Age,” the conference brought together nearly a hundred experts and scholars from home and abroad. The event also marked the official release of the new academic collection International Communication Research, reflecting ongoing efforts to advance scholarly exchange and practical innovation in international communication.

Co-organized by the Jinan University School of Journalism and Communication, the Editorial Department of International Communication Research, and the Jinan University Key Laboratory of Big Data and International Communication, the conference gathered representatives from institutions including the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, the Guangdong Federation of Social Sciences, Peking University, Fudan University, City University of Hong Kong, and the University of Macau. Participants discussed the reshaping of global communication by intelligent technologies and pathways for innovating Chinese narratives.

(Photo: Lin Rupeng delivering remarks)  

Lin Rupeng, Secretary of the Education Working Committee of the Guangdong Provincial Party Committee and Director of the Provincial Department of Education, emphasized in his address that building international communication capacity is central to enhancing national cultural soft power. He noted that higher education should serve national strategies by cultivating high-quality talent in international communication, and called on scholars to focus on “communication transformation in the intelligent age,” share experiences, and address challenges.

(Photo: Sun Yu delivering remarks)  

Sun Yu, Secretary of the Party Committee of Jinan University, reviewed the university’s international communication initiatives leveraging its distinctive role as an institution for overseas Chinese education. He highlighted that Jinan University is actively integrating into national strategies to promote the global reach of Chinese stories. As international communication enters a phase of “quality improvement, efficiency enhancement, and innovation within established frameworks,” the university will continue to contribute its expertise and resources.

Professor Zhi Tingrong, Dean of the School of Journalism and Communication at Jinan University, presided over the opening ceremony. He stated that the conference aims to address profound changes brought by technologies such as artificial intelligence and to foster dialogue between academia and industry.

(Photo: Signing ceremony for the research collaboration on an international communication evaluation system and index for overseas social platforms)  

During the conference, the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and the Jinan University Institute of International Communication signed a cooperation agreement on the “Evaluation System and Index Research for International Communication Outcomes on Overseas Social Platforms.” The project is designed to develop a scientific, quantifiable framework for assessing the effectiveness of international communication. The Institute also released a project call and postdoctoral recruitment notice to further strengthen its research capacity.

Established in November 2023, the Jinan University Institute of International Communication brings together experts from disciplines such as journalism and communication, international relations, data science, and foreign languages. It focuses on studying the principles of international communication and enhancing the impact, appeal, and persuasiveness of China’s global messaging.

Professor Chen Changfeng, Editor-in-Chief of the Global Journal of Media Studies, presented key projects launched by the Institute, including the 2025 research call and 2026 research topics, which center on ecological shifts in international communication in the digital-intelligent era and the overseas dissemination of Chinese culture.

(Photo: Li Yihang delivering remarks)  

(Photo: Launch ceremony for International Communication Research)  

The conference also featured the launch of the academic collection International Communication Research, supervised by the Guangdong Federation of Social Sciences, hosted by Jinan University, and edited by the Jinan University School of Journalism and Communication. Li Yihang, Secretary of the Party Leadership Group and Executive Vice Chairman of the Guangdong Federation of Social Sciences, and Editor-in-Chief of the collection, noted that Guangdong, as a forefront of reform and opening-up and a core region of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, should serve as a key “window” and “hub” for sharing China’s stories with the world. The first issue includes 16 articles exploring topics such as AI-enabled international communication, the dissemination of the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, and narrative innovations in the Global South and the Belt and Road Initiative, aligning academic inquiry with practical developments in Guangdong.

The conference agenda included keynote speeches, roundtables, and parallel panels covering a wide range of topics, including China’s image building, the global circulation of digital cultural products, and practical innovations in international communication, showcasing the latest research and diverse perspectives in the field.

The Jinan University Institute of International Communication was established to support national development strategies and address research needs in international communication. It aims to strengthen strategic planning and improve the effectiveness of China’s global communication.