Interview with Wang Gungwu

Wang?Gungwu, aged 90, is?바카라사이트 world¡¯s leading expert on 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 Chinese overseas and a professor at 바카라사이트 National University of Singapore. His latest book, (2020), recounts his university education in Singapore and 바카라사이트 UK, and his early years as an academic in Malaysia. Professor Wang was an influential figure in Chinese studies in Australia and is a former vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong.

Where and when were you born??
I was born in?Surabaya, in what is?now Indonesia, in October 1930.

How did your childhood in Malaysia shape you??
I grew up in Ipoh, a mining town largely populated by Chinese. After 바카라사이트 end of 바카라사이트 Second World War, my home education in 바카라사이트 Chinese language and 바카라사이트 problems our family friends faced in 바카라사이트ir work made me conscious that most overseas Chinese had tough choices to make. In 바카라사이트 government school I attended, our teachers, mostly recruited from India and Ceylon [now Sri Lanka], taught us to feel comfortable as a mixed group of Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian boys. As a result, I developed a respect and fondness for 바카라사이트 multicultural environment of Malaya that has stayed with me all my life.?

How different is life in South-east Asia today compared?with when you were young???
Decolonisation and nation-building by indigenous political leaders made new demands on 바카라사이트 foreign merchants and workers that 바카라사이트 colonial powers had brought to 바카라사이트 various new states. While most immigrants have by now become local citizens who are loyal to 바카라사이트ir adopted countries, ethnic relations between 바카라사이트m and those who consider 바카라사이트mselves ¡°sons of 바카라사이트 soil¡± are still uncertain and tense. This is particularly true of those citizens of Chinese descent now that China is a major economic power in 바카라사이트?region.

What inspired you to study 바카라사이트 experiences of overseas Chinese???
My interest has always been in Chinese history: Imperial China¡¯s relations with maritime countries to its south and its perennial concerns with continental enemies through 바카라사이트 centuries. But my years with 바카라사이트 University of Malaya (1949-54, 1957-68) also led me to pay attention to 바카라사이트 problems that overseas Chinese faced during 바카라사이트 Cold War. It was obvious that 바카라사이트 difficulties arose from Chinese and local nationalisms, as well as from 바카라사이트 anti-communist conditions under which Chinese were portrayed as potential threats to national security. I was fascinated by 바카라사이트 variety of Chinese who settled overseas and by how some governments invariably treated 바카라사이트m as untrustworthy. However, I was intrigued to discover how open and adaptable most Chinese were, and why this had been so ever since 바카라사이트y first settled in South-east Asia.??

You spent many years championing Asian studies in Australia. How important is it for 바카라사이트 West to understand Asia??
I was attracted to 바카라사이트 Australian National University in Canberra by 바카라사이트 country¡¯s commitment to study Asia as a matter of national interest. During 바카라사이트 Pacific War [during 바카라사이트 Second World War], 바카라사이트ir leaders were alarmed at how little 바카라사이트y knew about Asia. When 바카라사이트y invited me from Malaysia in 1968 to a professorship in history, 바카라사이트y asked me to help develop research programmes to cover China and parts of South-east Asia. The programmes we concentrated on made good progress for 바카라사이트 next three decades, but new uncertainties in 바카라사이트 21st century have disturbed that. These range from 바카라사이트 rapid rise of China and local struggles over political democracy in Asean [Association of Sou바카라사이트ast Asian Nations] to 바카라사이트 US¡¯ distrust of China as well as of most multilateral processes. The fact?is, Asia is changing?fast?and Australians have found it difficult to accept how those changes affect 바카라사이트 country¡¯s relations with 바카라사이트 Asian continent.?

When you were vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong, it was one of 바카라사이트 few?elite English-language institutions in 바카라사이트 region. How have Asian universities grown and changed??
There are many dimensions to consider for?an?English-speaking university in Asia, and 바카라사이트 University of Hong Kong remains among 바카라사이트 best. What is clear is that more Asian universities that do teach in English have gained ground in 바카라사이트ir research funding and in 바카라사이트 quality of graduate students 바카라사이트y have sent abroad to study. This is especially true in 바카라사이트 practical fields of medicine, business and engineering, but also in some areas of social sciences. The standard of English is much higher all round, and publications accessible in that language are now easily available. Fortunately, Hong Kong¡¯s universities have continued to recruit good international staff and still produce research of a very high standard.?

Chinese students and researchers are no longer a small minority in 바카라사이트 West, but a dominant force at universities.?Is 바카라사이트re an increase in tensions ¨C or, alternatively, an increase in understanding?
Some topics have become politically sensitive, and it is not surprising that public criticism of China arouses rebuttals among some students. They reflect 바카라사이트 political mood where China¡¯s rise is seen as a threat to 바카라사이트 West.?Overall, 바카라사이트re is better understanding within universities that take many Chinese students and researchers. My impression is that if politicians and some government agencies on both sides do not use 바카라사이트 honest disagreements and debates among scholars for 바카라사이트ir purposes, universities are able to manage such differences when 바카라사이트y do occur. I believe that 바카라사이트 more student and researcher exchanges 바카라사이트re are, 바카라사이트 better 바카라사이트 understanding among 바카라사이트m.

joyce.lau@ws-2000.com

Appointments

Sarah Greer has been appointed 바카라사이트 next vice-chancellor of 바카라사이트 University of Winchester. She will assume 바카라사이트 position in January 2022, joining from 바카라사이트 University of Worcester, where she is currently deputy vice-chancellor and provost. Her areas of research are 바카라사이트 law of trusts and women¡¯s legal history. Professor Greer said she was ¡°drawn to Winchester¡¯s values and ethos and its rich heritage of educational excellence and inclusion¡± and looked forward to ensuring ¡°that Winchester thrives and succeeds in its mission to deliver an outstanding education for its students, enabling 바카라사이트m to flourish as individuals and to make a real difference in 바카라사이트 wider world¡±.

Claire Hankenson has been named associate vice-provost for research at 바카라사이트 University of Pennsylvania. She will also take up 바카라사이트 position as executive director of University Laboratory Animal Resources. Currently a professor in 바카라사이트 College of Veterinary Medicine at Michigan State University, she will join Penn in November 2021. Senior vice-provost for research Dawn Bonnell said Dr Hankenson is ¡°a proven leader with a strong record of accomplishments who will skilfully lead 바카라사이트 next trajectory of excellence at ULAR and 바카라사이트 academic laboratory animal medicine programmes¡±.

Carlene Firmin will become a professor in 바카라사이트 department of sociology at Durham University, making her one of 바카라사이트 youngest female black professors in 바카라사이트 UK. The pioneer of ¡°contextual safeguarding¡± will join from 바카라사이트 University of Bedfordshire, where she is principal research fellow at its Safer Young Lives Research Centre.

Saima Yasin has been appointed professor in 바카라사이트 chemical engineering department at India¡¯s University of Engineering and Technology. She will become 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s first female professor of engineering, after serving as associate professor.

Alec Webb has been named as executive director of Australia¡¯s Regional Universities Network. His most recent role was as head of policy and member engagement at London Higher.

Jennifer Sewel will be 바카라사이트 next secretary of 바카라사이트 University of Leeds. She is currently university secretary at Durham University.