The Second Doctoral Students Forum of Foreign Languages and Literature in Western China, hosted by Sichuan International Studies University (SISU), Xi'an International Studies University, and other universities in western China, launched at SISU on November 27.

Scholars, researchers, and student representatives from universities in western China, including Sichuan University and Chongqing University, and other universities including Beijing Foreign Studies University and Shanghai International Studies University, participated in the online and offline forums, aiming to explore new strategies for developing foreign languages and literature subjects under the background of contemporary liberal arts.

How can they carry out foreign language education reform,  deepen cooperation between higher education institutions in western China and improve the quality of training foreign language talents? The president of Sichuan International Studies University, Dong Hongchuan, offered three suggestions, "First, discuss the construction of traditional disciplines and new liberal arts based on the development of new liberal arts; second, explore a feasible model of resource sharing and continue to strengthen cooperation among the Western Alliance for Multi-Cultural Education in China (WAMEC) members in major national scientific research projects; third, deepen cooperation among WAMEC members in high-level talent training with this forum as the supporting platform."

President of Sichuan International Studies University Dong Hongchuan delivered opening ceremony remarks at the Second Doctoral Students Forum of Foreign Languages and Literature in Western China. (Photo provided to iChongqing)

Vice President of Xi'an International Studies University  Dang Zhengsheng added that focusing on the training of graduate students of foreign languages and literature under the background of new liberal arts, this forum promotes academic innovation and interdisciplinary research in institutions of higher education in western China and builds a long-term mechanism of academic exchange, and improves the quality of doctoral education.

After the opening ceremony, 17  professors delivered keynote speeches with themes including "Inheritance and Innovation of Academic Research," "Tasks of Translators and Interpreters in the Age of Artificial Intelligence," and "Another Highlight of Cognitive Poetics in China."

Professor Zhang Xuchun from Sichuan International Studies University delivered a keynote speech at the Second Doctoral Students Forum of Foreign Languages and Literature in Western China. (Photo provided to iChongqing)