Being Director of the SOAS China Institute (SCI) is a privilege. It puts me in a position to work with, co-ordinate, and support the largest collection of academic experts in the social sciences and humanities in Europe, who work on both contemporary and ancient China. Since the geographic span covers not only the mainland of China but also Taiwan and Hong Kong, I also work closely with colleagues in the Centre of Taiwan Studies on Taiwan related projects. 

With the rise of China and the exceptional pool of expertise across the Eurasian landmass and Africa at SOAS, I explore and co-ordinate with colleagues who work on the rest of East Asia, Central Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and Africa to understand better and to contextualise China’s involvement in their regions.  Indeed, the SCI works with the other regional institutes and centres at SOAS in promoting collaborative research on East Asia and Chinese engagement in the rest of the world outside of Europe and the Americas.

The SCI is of course primarily dedicated to supporting staff and students at SOAS, but it is also a resource which SOAS is keen to share beyond academia and London. We would like to make our research and insights helpful to as many as possible.

Whoever you are and wherever you are based, a student or staff at SOAS, an alumni, a fellow China specialist, a journalist, a public servant, a business person or an independent person deeply interested in China, you are encouraged to explore with me and my colleagues at the SCI to see how we can enhance our understanding and study of China and things Chinese.  

For academic colleagues and China hands based outside of London or the UK, the SCI is ready to explore with you how we can work together or be helpful to you when you next visit London. 

For members of the business community you may like to know that we have a corporate membership scheme which you may find valuable.

I have the pleasure to welcome you to our website, which provide information about who we are and what we do. The SCI regularly hosts public lectures, seminars, the China Debate and other events, and I look forward to welcoming you in person to some, if not all, of them.  Please do take a look at what are on offer and join us when you can.