Professor of Chinese Michel Hockx Elected President of Chinese Studies Association
3 October 2011
Professor of Chinese Michel Hockx has been elected President of the British Association for Chinese Studies (BACS).
The decision was announced at the association's annual conference in September. Professor Hockx will serve a three-year term.
"Currently Chinese language programmes are flourishing all across the UK," said Professor Hockx. "Common sense dictates that studying Chinese is a smart choice that gives good job market prospects. In previous years, BACS has done a lot to support the teaching of Chinese at all levels and this work will continue. However, in my term as President I will emphasise another very important part of the BACS remit; namely, to support and promote the language-based study and research of China across the humanities and social sciences. "
Professor Hockx, who is originally from the Netherlands, joined SOAS in 1996 as a Lecturer in Modern Chinese Literature and Language. He was promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2001 and was elected Chair of Chinese in 2002. He has published 10 books on modern Chinese literature and culture. [See the Channel 4 story on 'Chinese literature for beginners', in which Professor Hockx recommends a few must-reads.]
"My aim is to make BACS the major conduit for students, scholars and independent researchers wanting to access sources of information and sources of funding to support their work," he said. "Championing such cross-disciplinary, integrated research in Chinese Studies, and helping to spread its outcomes to the public at large, will be immensely beneficial to public understanding of China and culturally Chinese communities."
The British Association for Chinese Studies was founded in 1976 to promote the study of China and the Chinese diaspora in Britain. Members include academics, students, journalists, businesspeople, civil servants and others committed to the study of China. Membership is open to anyone interested in supporting China Studies in Britain.
BACS describes itself as "politically non-partisan and dedicated to supporting accurate, objective and impartial scholarship related to China".
The work of the BACS includes promoting the study of China in schools and universities, providing networking opportunities for postgraduate researchers and acting as a liaison with funding bodies, government agencies and other Area Studies organisations.
For further information, contact:
William Friar
Communications Officer
w.friar@soas.ac.uk
+44 (0)20 7898 4135
