Centre for Researching Education and Language

In this post-pandemic era when conventional theories and practices in intercultural education and communication are challenged by forces of de-globalization/de-internationalisation due to rising nationalism globally, there are urgent needs to explore new educational and linguistic strategies and models for sustaining tolerant and liveable societies. At the forefront of international higher education (IHE), we need a new unit to coordinate cutting-edge research conducted to address such needs by UNNC staff, particularly those in the School of Education and English (EDEN). CREL is thus established to provide a platform for leading researchers in IHE, intercultural communication, applied/socio-/psycho- linguistics, translation studies, educational leadership and management, multilingualism, international communication, translanguaging, multimodality, etc. to share and disseminate research findings and insights related to the contemporary issues in education and language. CREL is output driven and its ultimate aim is to produce research outcomes, in the form of fund capturing, publications, and policy recommendations, that can generate positive social impact and help policy making at regional, national and international levels.

The Centre Director is Professor Anwei Feng, professor of education in the School of Education and English (EdEN). As a research unit, CREL is EdEn based and hosted and is managed by the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences (FHSS). Thus, it aims to bring the research expertise together, not only from EdEn but from academics and PGR students of the whole faculty, to address issues relevant to Education and Language.

To make the output-driven strategy work effectively, CREL operates on a two-year cycle with the aim to produce the cutting-edge outcomes for maximal social impact. In the first two years, CREL aligns its research with FHSS and UNNC strategies by focusing on “talent development” specified in the FHSS RKE Strategy 2022-25 as one of four key areas. This focus is chosen on the basis of solid work already done by a critical mass of researchers in the International Talent Development and Research Base under the auspice of the Ningbo Social Science Academy and of the Local Studies for Education research interest group. These groups are made up of academics and doctorate students from FHSS and beyond. It is expected that, in two years, this focus will lead to research symposia, publication, fund capturing, and a couple of policy recommendations. After two years, CREL will review the key area project(s) and shift to other key areas that are likely to generate cutting-edge outcomes and positive social impact.

CREL Launch

The Glocal Talents Symposium co-organised by CREL and ITRDB