Integration and Innovation: International Conference on
Language Services and Area Studies in the Digital Age
Successfully Held by SFL
To celebrate the 100th anniversary of Jiangxi University of Economics and Finance (JUFE), the International Conference on Language Services and Area Studies in the Digital Age, which was organized by JUFE and Danubius University, Romania, and hosted by the School of Foreign Language (SFL) of JUFE, was held in Jiangxi Trilec International Hotel on October. 21-22, 2023. Receiving widespread attention and keen interest from people in different fields, this conference rallied over 120 experts, scholars, teachers and researchers from 15 countries in language education, translation research, area and international studies, cross-cultural communication and other sectors to share their new and original ideas in their studies. Vice Dean Du Jingping chaired the opening ceremony, at which Prof. Chen Shifa, Vice President of JUFE, Steve O. Michael, President of Danubius University, Romania, Prof. Tang Bing, vice president of Jiangxi Foreign Language Association, gave opening remarks.
On the opening ceremony, Prof. Chen Shifa, on behalf of JUFE, extended a warm welcome to all the participants and briefly introduced the history of JUFE and its recent situation, as well as its achievements and outstanding contributions. He expected all experts to contribute to the in-depth discussions and give continuous supports for the university’s talent cultivation, scientific research, international cooperations at multi levels.
Steve O. Michael also concisely presented the history of Danubius University, Romania. He extended sincere thanks to the invitation, and celebrated the coming 100th anniversary of JUFE. He also welcomed the arrival of all the attending experts and scholars to Europe and to Danubius University, Romania for academic exchanges and cooperation.
Prof. Tang Bing congratulates JUFE on its 100th anniversary as well. She suggested that, this conference, having invited numerous experts and scholars in the fields of foreign language teaching, cultural exchanges and language services, offered precious opportunities for both students and teachers in Jiangxi Province to learn from these prestigious people, thus promoting the research on foreign language teaching in Jiangxi Province. And she added, Jiangxi Foreign Language Association would like to provide more academic exchange opportunities for students and teachers in Jiangxi Province and work for the high-quality development of Jiangxi’s foreign language teaching together.
In addition, this conference had special guests for academic reports in the fields of language education, translation research, area studies, language management, and trans-cultural communication and others, including Prof. Liu Jianda from Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, Prof. Steve O. Michael from Danubius University, Romania, Prof. Zhong Shuneng from South China University of Technology, Prof. Wang Lifei from Beijing Language and Culture University, Prof. Zhang Weilei from Shanghai University of International Business and Economics, Prof. Si Xianzhu from Beijing International Studies University, Associate Prof. Hiroyuki Ijiri from Okayama University of Commerce, Prof. Fang Tao from Economic and Cultural Transformation at Memorial University, Prof. Sandro Jung from Fudan University, Senior lecturer Panaitescu Manuela Carmen and Associate Prof. Tureac Cornelia Elena from Danubius University and Prof. Zhang Xifeng, Dean of SFL, JUFE. The academic report sessions was respectively hosted by Prof. Huang Hui,Dean of SFL in Jiangxi Normal University, Prof. Tang Bing, vice president of Jiangxi Foreign Language Association, Prof. Yuan Pinghua from East China Jiaotong University and Tu Niangen, Vice Dean of the SFL, JUFE.
The 11 academic reports received enthusiastic applause. In the following session of expert review, Prof. Zhong Shuneng commented that though at the beginning of the conference all the attendees got worried they would be replaced by AI represented by ChatGPT, the progress of the conference restored the confidence of all, and that as the society evolves, we must confront the changing reality and adapt to it proactively. According to him, this international conference has 3 characteristics: firstly, it was organized by 2 universities from home and abroad; secondly, the reporters are from different countries; at last, all the topics of the reports were related to language services, area studies and trans-cultural communication.
At the closing ceremony, both Prof. Zhang Xifeng and Prof. Steve O. Michael, representing the conference organizers, extended their sincere thanks to all the attendees: officials, experts and scholars, students and teachers, as well as the working staff. They said all could learn a lot from the conference, which would propel the cause of language services and area studies, enabling the teaching research in JUFE to go ahead in the academic community and significantly promote the social development. This conference breeds new ideas in the academic circle; meanwhile, it adds glory to JUFE’s 100th anniversary. We all expect the boom of international academic exchanges alike, so as to promote the sharing and spread of knowledge across the world.
By Su Jinyin & Du Jingping
