About the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS)
Established in 2013 within the Asia Institute at the Faculty of Arts, the Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies (CCCS) is a leading hub for research and engagement on China. The Centre plays a pivotal role in shaping an Australian perspective on contemporary China, providing rigorous, research-based insights into Chinese societies, economies, and transformations in the twenty-first century.
CCCS is dedicated to advancing high-quality research, teaching, and public engagement at the University of Melbourne. Its mission is to deepen understanding of China’s ongoing changes and their impacts both within China and globally. As a key partner in Australia–China academic collaboration, CCCS fosters strong institutional ties with top Chinese universities and serves as Melbourne’s focal point for scholarship on contemporary China.
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Contact CCCS
- Address
- Sidney Myer Asia Centre (Building 158)
The University of Melbourne
761 Swanston Street VIC 3010 Australia - china-centre@unimelb.edu.au
- Phone
- +61 3 8344 3758
Bluesky
China Centre @melbournechinacntr.bsky.social
The health, safety and wellbeing of our community is our number one priority. Our events program is now online. Find out more about the University’s COVID-19 response.
Priority Research Themes
CCCS serves as a national hub for contemporary Chinese studies, fostering interdisciplinary research that brings together scholars from across the social sciences. Anchored at the University of Melbourne, the Centre leads a dynamic research program that spans key disciplines such as sociology, geography, development studies, public policy, and beyond. Our work is grounded in a commitment to understanding China’s complex transformations and their global implications. By linking the domestic and the global through the lens of Global China, we treat China’s overseas presence not simply as an empirical object but as a lens through which to rethink existing analytical categories, foregrounding the relational, contested, and multi-sited nature of China’s engagements with the world.
To guide and focus our efforts, we have established five research streams aligned with the core themes of our scholarly agenda:
Initiatives
As part of our mission to support innovative and interdisciplinary research on contemporary China, CCCS hosts and supports a wide range of initiatives. These programs are designed to bring together scholars, practitioners, and students from across disciplines, fostering vibrant intellectual exchange and cultivating new perspectives on China’s evolving role in the world. By building research capacity and encouraging collaboration, our initiatives create spaces where ideas can be tested and partnerships and projects can grow. Below you will find our current and ongoing initiatives.
Community Engagement Initiatives and Activities
The Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies at the University of Melbourne works with community organisations, local libraries and professional networks to bring research and public discussion beyond the university. These activities connect Chinese-speaking communities, international students and the wider Melbourne community around migration, belonging, wellbeing and Australia–China relations.
Conferences
Global Taiwan 全球臺灣 Conference (2026)
On 4–5 November 2026, CCCS will co-host Global Taiwan 全球臺灣, an international and interdisciplinary conference that brings together scholars from across the humanities and social sciences to explore Taiwan’s place in the world. The conference, organised with the Australasian Taiwan Studies Association (ATSA) and the International Taiwan Studies Center at the National Taiwan Normal University, seeks to situate Taiwan within global historical processes, intellectual currents, and cultural exchanges, while also highlighting the island’s distinctive experiences and contributions.
Biannual Conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia (2025)
In December 2025, CCCS hosed the biannual conference of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia (CSAA). For the full program of the event, see this page.
Grounding Global China Conference (2024)
In December 2024, CCCS organised the 'Grounding Global China' conference. The event sought to to bring together scholars, policy makers, and experts from diverse fields to exchange and share their experiences and research findings, offering grounded views on the latest developments related to Global China. For the full program of the event, see this page.
Community-Engaged Projects
Towards Co-thriving: Connecting International Students and Older Melburnians Across Cultures, September 2026
Community partner: North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre
Supported by: University of Melbourne Civic and Community Impact Fund (CCIF)
Dr Qiuping Pan collaborated with the North & West Melbourne Neighbourhood Centre to bring international students and older local residents together through Towards Co-thriving. Two co-design sessions were delivered in conjunction with Being a Melburnian, a City of Melbourne–supported program. Participants shared experiences of belonging, identified barriers to community participation, and developed ideas for building stronger connections across cultures and generations.
The first session, Finding Belonging in Melbourne, invited participants to share stories and photographs of places where they feel comfortable and at home. A photo exhibition was also developed to organise conversations about friendship, neighbourhood life and the different ways people experience belonging.
The second session, Building Meaningful Connections in Melbourne, explored what helps international students form relationships beyond campus. Participants discussed shared activities, volunteering and neighbourhood opportunities, as well as the challenges of turning brief encounters into lasting connections.
Participants view the photo exhibition at the Finding Belonging in Melbourne session
Events and Public Engagement
International Student Wellbeing Workshop July 2026
Community partners: Lifeline Australia; Chinese Community Council of Australia (Victoria) (CCCAV)
The Centre partnered with CCCAV and Lifeline Australia to bring more than 70 international students and community members together to discuss wellbeing and access to support. Participants shared self-care ideas and challenges they had encountered when seeking help. Their reflections were recorded on a collaborative Padlet, and the event introduced students to Lifeline’s wellbeing toolkit and related resources.
Participants share self-care ideas in small-group discussions.
Career Pathways in Chinese Studies
Date: August 2026 | Represented organisations: National Foundation for Australia–China Relations; Centre for Contemporary Chinese Studies; Australia–China Association of Scientists and Entrepreneurs
The Centre hosted a career pathways session for Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies students and students in related fields. More than 25 undergraduate and postgraduate students heard from Elise Gruttner, Professor Mark Wang and Henry Yang about careers in government, research, public diplomacy, innovation and entrepreneurship. The discussion explored the skills behind employable China capability and practical opportunities for career development.
Students and speakers discuss China-related career pathways.
Community, Connection and Platforms April 2026
Community partner: Yarra Libraries
Dr Pan and Dr Wilfred Yang Wang joined a bilingual public discussion on Chinese Australian community life and digital platforms, facilitated by Dr Eric Jun Fu. Drawing on Dr Pan's Transnational Ties, Local Lives (Routledge, 2025) and Dr Wang's co-authored Chinese Platforms: A Critical Introduction (Polity, 2025), the event brought research on migration and media into conversation with local audiences.
Dr Pan and Dr Wang in discussion with Dr Fu at Yarra Libraries.
China Knowledge Starts at Home May 2026
Community partner: Knox Library
At Knox Library, Dr Pan and Dr Wang discussed how research on diaspora and digital platforms can deepen public understanding of China and Chinese Australian lives. Moderated by Dr Wesa Chau, the joint book talk created a forum for conversation among researchers and community members. Across the two library book talks, participants included local Chinese community leaders, an MP and SBS journalists.
Dr Pan and Dr Wang speak at the Knox Library book talk, moderated by Dr Chau.
A History of Chinese Immigration to Australia April 2025
Community partner: Yarra Libraries
Dr Pan shared research on the history of Chinese immigration to Australia at a Mandarin-language public talk hosted by Yarra Libraries. The event formed part of her ongoing work with local libraries to make migration research accessible to Chinese-speaking audiences beyond the university.
Dr Pan gives a public talk at a Yarra Libraries event.
Open Access Publications
CCCS supports open-access journals and platforms that focus on creating and disseminating knowledge about all facets of Chinese politics and society. These include the Made in China Journal, The People's Map of Global China, and Global China Pulse.
Groups and Networks
China Water Network
Under the guidance of Associate Professor Sarah Rogers and Prof Mark Wang from CCCS, as well as Professor Alison Browne, Professor Deljana Iossifova, and Professor Saska Petrova from the University of Manchester, the China Water Network brings together early-stage researchers interested in China’s water-related topics across universities and disciplines. It is a platform for communication, peer support and networking to accompany the professional development of researchers, through virtual meetings, on-site events and networking activities at conferences. Read more at this link.
Chinese Studies Research Group
The Chinese Studies Research Group (CSRG) is a postgraduate academic group representing all Chinese Studies researchers at the University of Melbourne, regardless of department, school, or faculty. We provide events, resources, training, and support. For more information about the group and how to become a member, see this page.
Global China Knowledge Network
Global China Knowledge Network aims to be a platform that enables the development, sharing and articulation of knowledge on China’s process of ‘Going Global’. Read more at this link.
Seed Funding
The purpose of our Seed Grants is to encourage and support new research ideas, collaborations and high-quality publications by University of Melbourne staff and PhD students, with a focus on contemporary China studies.
Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies
China is a key global player with enormous influence. Australia has many links to China economically, culturally, socially and increasingly, politically. If you’re interested in understanding China and its role in the world, the Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies (MCCS) could be for you. The Master of Contemporary Chinese Studies is a vibrant interdisciplinary program accommodating a wide range of interests. You’ll develop a comprehensive understanding of the people, environment, cultures, society, politics, and economy of contemporary China. You’ll choose subjects from a wide range of disciplines including sociology, political science, international relations, media and cultural studies, law and Chinese language studies.
PhD Program
CCCS welcomes enquiries from prospective graduate students with strong analytical skills in the social sciences who are interested in pursuing PhD research on contemporary China’s economy, politics, society, and environment. Our team of experienced researchers offers supervision across a wide range of topics, including economic development, politics, trade and security, crime, civil society, social policy, urbanisation, agricultural development, and environmental management.
Enquiries should be directed to china-centre@unimelb.edu.au.
Scholarship Opportunities
Applicants should consider theAustralian Government Research Training Program (RTP) Stipend Scholarship and other scholarship opportunities available at the University, includingGraduate Research Scholarships and the Faculty of ArtsGraduate research scholarships.
Students can reach out to the Australia Awards team at aus-awards[at]unimelb.edu.au and your in-country contact for specific eligibility information about the Australia Awards Scholarship .
For a comprehensive overview of available opportunities, prospective students are encouraged to visit the University of Melbourne Scholarships website. This platform allows applicants to filter scholarships based on their individual circumstances, helping students to identify potential funding options relevant to their situation.
