With the deepening of globalization and diversification of regional cooperation, foreign language disciplines, as vital platforms for cross-cultural communication and knowledge production, play an increasingly prominent role in country and region studies. In 2023, China’s Academic Degrees Committee released the Introduction to First-Level Disciplines for Degree Conferral and Talent Cultivation, wherein country and region studies was newly designated as one of the five major directions in foreign language disciplines. This significant development has sparked extensive discussions in the field, highlighting the urgent need for foreign language disciplines to break through traditional boundaries of linguistic and literary research. We must explore talent cultivation models for country and region studies within the framework of foreign language disciplines, clarify pathways for disciplinary construction under the new paradigm, advance high-quality development of foreign language disciplines, and establish a knowledge system of “Foreign Languages + Country and Region Studies” with Chinese characteristics.
As a pioneer in country and region studies domestically, Northwest University leverages its century-old academic legacy and interdisciplinary strengths, focusing long-term on critical BRI regions including the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and Africa. In April 2023, the university established the Institute of Country and Region Studies, and School of Country and Region Studies. In 2024, it obtained approval for the First-Level Discipline Doctoral Authorization in Country and Region Studies. Starting from 2025, the university will enroll doctoral and master’s students in Country and Region Studies alongside English (Country and Region Studies Honors Class) undergraduates, and foreign language disciplines have actively contributed to talent cultivation in country and region studies. Northwest University will host the “Conference on Country and Region Studies in Foreign Language Disciplines: Innovative Transformation and Talent Cultivation” in Xi’an from October 31 to November 2, 2025. The symposium will feature keynote speeches, thematic panels, young scholar forums, and other sessions, providing a platform for experts and researchers to explore how foreign language disciplines empower country and region studies, drive academic innovation and practical applications, and serve national strategic needs and global governance capacity building. We cordially invite scholars, educators, graduate students, institutions of country and region studies, think tanks, and industry representatives with research interests in this field to gather for academic exchange.
I. Time & Venue
Dates: October 31－November 2, 2025
October 31: Registration
November 1: Full-day sessions (Opening ceremony, Keynotes, Panels, Young Scholar Forum, Closing ceremony)
November 2: Departure
Venue: Northwest University (Chang’an Campus)
II. Theme & Topics
Theme: Country and Region Studies in Foreign Language Disciplines: Innovation Transformation and Talent Cultivation
Subtopics:
Paths for disciplinary integration of foreign languages and regional studies
Foreign language policy and planning in country and region studies
Foreign language talent cultivation models for country and region studies
Curriculum design and teaching methodologies for country and region studies
Mission and pathways for foreign language schools advancing country and region studies
Roles and practices of foreign language disciplines in BRI country and region studies
Construction and application of foreign language corpora for country an region studies
AI-driven innovation in foreign languages and country and region studies
III. Registration Fees
Regular attendees: ¥1,000/person
Full-time graduate students: ¥500/person
Payment details will be notified separately. Participants shall bear their own expenses for accommodation, meals and round-trip transportation.
IV. Accommodation
Haotang International Hotel
Address: No. 855 West Chang'an Street, Chang’an District, Xi'an, Shaanxi
V. Organizers
Hosts: Northwest University
Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press
Organizer: School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University
Co-organizer: English Language Learning Editorial Office
VI. Submission Requirements
Participants are requested to send the conference reply form as an attachment to the conference email address before September 30, 2025. The email subject should be formatted as: “Country and Region Studies in Foreign Language Disciplines: Innovative Transformation and Talent Cultivation — Author's Name — Title of Paper”. The Conference Organizing Committee will send invitations to participants whose papers (or abstracts) have passed the review by October 10, 2025.
Conference email address: 1227848653@qq.com
Contact: Li Yan
School of Foreign Languages, Northwest University
May 2025
School Homepage
中文
