UNAM in Asia. UNAM’s Office in China and Its Continental Liaison Work

Over a decade ago, UNAM’s Office in China was established with the strategic purpose of fostering institutional liaison in support for our internationalization project. This initiative aims to create more significant cooperation, exchange, and mobility opportunities for UNAM’s students, academics, scientists, and artists.

The importance of the office’s work cannot be overstated, as it is the sole UNAM branch in Asia. This unique position has enabled it to form and enhance beneficial partnerships with academic, cultural, governmental, business, and social institutions in China and other regions such as East and Southeast Asia and even Oceania.

Through programs and activities with a multidisciplinary approach, we have promoted exchange in various fields of knowledge in line with UNAM’s
primary functions: teaching, research, and dissemination of culture. It should be noted that most academic and artistic programs are sponsored or financed by the collaborating institutions. All activities carried out by UNAM China are free of charge for the benefit of the student and academic community, as well as the general public from Mexico, China, and other countries.

The following are some outstanding examples of academic and cultural projects that have resulted from the alliances and institutional cooperation established in the office’s vast area of influence.

BEIJING FOREIGN STUDIES UNIVERSITY
To begin, UNAM has formed a strategic partnership with Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), which hosts UNAM China. Through this collaboration, a dynamic academic and cultural program has been established, allowing for student mobility—incoming and outgoing—academic exchanges and various activities such as conferences, seminars, Spanish competitions, conversations, and publications, to mention some of them.

It should be added that BFSU, with more than 80 years of history, depends on China’s Ministry of Education. It is, par excellence, the institution that trains diplomatic cadres for the People’s Republic of China. It is also the most important university for undergraduate and graduate studies in foreign languages: 101 languages are taught in its classrooms. Regarding Spanish teaching, BFSU is considered the home of Hispanism in China because the first Faculty of Hispanic Philology was founded there in 1952, and many of the most outstanding Hispanists and translators are graduates of this university (see UNAM International issue 4, pp. 258-271).

Among the projects established with BFSU a very important one is the Joint Postgraduate Program in Latin American Studies, by UNAM’s Postgraduate Program in Latin American Studies and BFSU’s Faculty of Hispanic and Portuguese Studies. This postgraduate program is the first of its kind to be established between a Chinese and a Latin American university. So far, three Chinese students have completed the master’s program.

Three editions of the UNAM-BFSU International Conference on Chinese and Mexican Studies have also been held, alternating between Mexico and China, with visiting academics from both universities. Experts from various HEIs and diplomats have participated in these conversations.

With the BFSU’s Faculty of International Business, the first Puma Summer in Chinese was created in 2022, and today it has established itself as a model for at-home-internationalization since it allows UNAM’s high school and pre-grade students to learn on-line and free of charge about Chinese language and culture with native-speaking teachers. This year saw its second edition, and four groups were opened with the participation of 48 students between 15 and 33 years old, from 21 differente faculties, preparatory schools and Science and Humanities Colleges (CCH, Spanish initials). Apart from the on-line Puma Summer, we expect to have our first face to face Puma Summer in 2024.

Thanks to the invitation of BFSU, in 2017, UNAM joined the GAFSU Consortium (Global Alliance of Foreign Studies Universities), comprised of 34 universities from Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Within the framework of this important consortium, UNAM China has organized a course and a series of conferences on Latin America—the first of its kind. In 2022, UNAM became part of the Consortium for Country and Area Studies, which BFSU also sponsors. This consortium promotes collaboration between academics with different cultural, disciplinary, and linguistic backgrounds. Together, they conduct research and publish results on various global and regional issues. With the support of UNAM’s Teaching Center for Foreigners (CEPE, Spanish initials), a course on Latin America was organized. Meanwhile, a series of conferences was organized with the Center for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean (CIALC, Spanish initials). Both activities were aimed at Spanish students from various universities in China.

Regarding the dissemination and certification of the Spanish language, BFSU became the first partner university from Asia to join the International Assessment Service for the Spanish Language (SIELE, Spanish initials). Several events have been held under the theme of speaking Spanish in China, including the National University Contest of Short Stories in Spanish, which featured 162 works from students at 42 Chinese universities. The winning stories were published in a bilingual Spanish-Chinese edition by Literatura-UNAM press, supported by the Literature Department of UNAM’s Coordination for Cultural Dissemination.

Courses on Mexican culture have also been offered; among the most recent is the course on the Art of the Original Peoples of Mexico and an online course on the History of Mexican Art. This course was offered to Chinese students, teachers, and general public living in the Asia-Oceania region. And so, this list of activities developed during more than a decade could go on and on.

DONGGUAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
UNAM China’s work extends to many ties with HEIs and academic and cultural institutions. One example is the partnership with Dongguan University of Technology (DGUT), located in Guangdong Province, in an area considered one of China’s technological development poles, known as the Greater Bay.

In 2022, the UNAM-DGUT International Joint Ph. D. Program was created. UNAM Ph.D. students in Computer Science and Engineering graduate programs who enroll in this initiative have the opportunity to study in Mexico and China, with tutors from both institutions in the co-direction of their theses. Students will have access to the DGUT laboratories, providing twoyear scholarships for their stay in China. Under this program, up to 12 grants will be awarded to UNAM students over the next four years.

As part of this agreement, a series of virtual seminars have been held between UNAM and DGUT for professors and researchers to present their research areas and identify possible topics for developing doctoral work in co-direction. Graduate students from both universities participate as assistants in these academic activities. Seminars have been held on Environmental Engineering, and a second series is being prepared on Civil Engineering, followed by Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence.

DGUT has formally invited UNAM to become a strategic partner of its new China-LAC Technology Transfer Center, sponsored by China’s Ministry of Science and Technology and the government of Guangdong Province. The invitation was extended due to the close relationship between the two organizations. This center promotes scientific and technological innovation, technology transfer, cooperation, and exchange in both regions.

TSINGHUA UNIVERSITY
UNAM China has prioritized closer collaboration with Tsinghua University, the top Engineering university in China since a memorandum of understanding was established in 2018. Today, UNAM seeks to enter into specific agreements to promote collaboration in science and technology. With one 112 years of history, Tsinghua is one of the best universities in China and the world; it is ranked 14^th according to the QS World University Rankings 2023.

In the UNAM-Tsinghua relationship, there have been important advances, such as the liaison between UNAM’s Coordination for Open University, Educational Innovation and Distance Education (CUAIEED, Spanish initials), and the XuetangX platform, to sign an agreement through which UNAM’s Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) will be offered in China. For this purpose, an academic dialogue was held to share experiences, practices, and policies to improve online higher education in a post-pandemic context within the Global MOOC and Online Education Alliance. The partnership with XuetangX opens up tremendous possibilities for UNAM. This MOOC course platform has reached one hundred million registered users, making it the second largest in the world, with more than 5700 courses from Chinese and foreign universities.

PEKING UNIVERSITY
Since its creation, UNAM China has maintained permanent collaboration with Peking University (PKU), whose agreement with us is in the renewal
process. PKU is recognized as the best university in Asia, with a 12^th place ranking in QS World University Rankings 2023. In addition to the conferences, seminars, workshops, and courses offered alongside PKU, the Yenching Academy program is worth highlighting. This program was introduced during the 2014 PKU International Academic Forum and brought together vice provosts from 40 HEIs across Europe, North America, Asia, and Australia. UNAM was the only Latin American participant. Since then, our university has been one of the partner institutions of the Yenching Program, which allows UNAM students to apply for a two-year master’s degree in Chinese Studies. Those selected receive a full scholarship that includes food, lodging, and airfare. This program is very competitive as worldwide students apply, and PKU only accepts one hundred students per school year. Since its creation, five UNAM graduates have been selected and completed their master’s degree studies. One of the students graduated with a thesis on UNAMChina’s work.

FUDAN AND SHANGHAI UNIVERSITIES
UNAM has partnered with Fudan University, a prestigious institution in Shanghai, China. With 118 years of history and a current ranking of 34^th in the QS World University Rankings 2023, Fudan is considered one of the top universities in China. Together, UNAM and Fudan have collaborated on various projects and initiatives. Of particular interestis the Fudan-Latin America University Consortium (FLAUC), formed in 2017 and the first of its kind, which brings together universities from China and Latin America. The consortium currently includes 13 Latin American universities from seven countries, which promote institutional links for understanding between the two regions through joint research projects and other educational and cultural activities.

Every year, Fudan organizes the Shanghai Forum, an influential platform for promoting dialogue and cooperation between Asia and the rest of the world. This forum brings together government representatives, academics, and the general public and has been attended by UNAM academics due to the established ties. This year, four UNAM students are expected to participate in the 2023 Fudan University International Summer Session, a four-week course in different disciplines, depending on the selected candidates’ study area.

Collaboration has also been established with Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), with participation in 2019 in the Rectors’ Forum that brought together representatives of more than 50 universities and educational authorities from 20 countries.

OTHER ALLIANCES
Some examples of strategic alliances can be cited regarding governmental or government-dependent institutions with which ties have been established. One of them is the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), considered the leading think tank in China under the State Council, with a collaboration agreement to exchange academic personnel. In addition, jointly with CASS and El Colegio de México, UNAM has participated in five editions of the Seminar on Sino-Mexican Relations, which takes place every two years, alternating between Mexico and China.

Also noteworthy is the link with the China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), another outstanding think tank under the Ministry of State Security, focusing on international strategic and security studies to advise public policy. With this initiative, four editions of the UNAM-CICIR seminar have been held, alternating between the two countries. The most recently recorded was a visit of UNAM academics to Beijing in June 2023, including academic activities in Wuhan.

AND BEYOND CHINA
Academic activities have also been carried out together with the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences (VAAS, see UNAM International 4, pp. 246-257), which resulted in two seminars involving researchers from UNAM Center for Research on North America (CISAN, Spanish initials). These seminars addressed comparative issues between the U.S.-Mexico and Vietnam-China borders and identified possible lines of research.

The strategic work of the office has also been possible due to the collaboration with the diplomatic representations of our country in the region to develop various academic and cultural projects. Firstly, partnership with the Mexican Embassy in China, a strategic ally that has allowed us to strengthen UNAM work. Similarly, our influence has expanded with the support of various institutions, such as the Mexican Embassies in Vietnam, South Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Australia, New Zealand, and Thailand. This support has enabled us to organize meetings with HEIs in those countries and carry out specific activities. Recently, a webinar was organized for Asia on SIELE and the Specialization in Teaching Spanish as a Foreign Language (EEELE, Spanish initials). This webinar was focused on teachers based in Asia, and the call for attendance was extended due to diplomatic representations.

One of the projects that has had a greater diffusion outside China due to the tie with the embassies above is Rincón UNAM (UNAM Corner). This is a space in the participating libraries where scanning QR codes with mobile devices offers free access to UNAM’s digital resources (see UNAM Internacional 1, pp. 170-175 and 265-266).

The first Rincón UNAM (a concept born in 2015 at UNAM China) was installed at the Cervantes Institute in Beijing. Since then, five Chinese university libraries have promoted the installation of Rincones-Cultura.UNAM. A second stage took the project to institutions such as the National Library of Australia, the Australian National University, and the Cervantes Institute in Sydney. In Japan, it was installed at the Cervantes Institute in Tokyo, and other spaces have been opened at the Foreign Studies Universities of Tokyo, Kyoto, and Osaka, as well as at Sophia University. Starting in 2022, with the objective of supporting the dissemination of our university’s cultural and academic production, as well as to promote resources available in the UNAM-Culture Download platform (https://descargacultura.unam.mx/), QR codes have been included to access audio, video, photography, books, conferences, courses, magazines, scientific dissemination programs, educational materials, concerts, radio, and TV programs among other resources. They are organized in four categories culture, academia, resources in English (considering non-Spanish speaking internacional audiences), and communication media. Two spaces with the new visual identity have already been installed (at Beijing’s Cervantes Institute and at BFSU). The other UNAM Corners will be renewed slowly while new spaces will open in other Southeast Asian countries.

ARTS AND CULTURE
The collaboration between UNAM’s Faculty of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music of China (CCOM) stands out regarding the alliances established for academic activities related to artistic and cultural expression. This relationship has resulted in four UNAM-CCOM Chinese and Mexican Music Festival editions. It was attended by professors from both institutions, alternating between Mexico and China. In addition, students from the Faculty of Music have been selected to perform pieces by Chinese composers, and UNAM professors have been invited to teach Chinese students at the CCOM. This year a student from UNAM’s Faculty of Music graduated as Music Instrumentalist (Guitar) by executing work by Chinese composers from CCOM, who commissioned their pieces exclusively for the project. UNAM, as the only Mexican member, joins a Music Education Alliance with rectors and directors of music schools from over 32 countries at the invitation of this prominent Oriental conservatory.

Concerning film activities, the Contemporary Mexican Film Series has become a reference in China. In collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico in China, this film series has successfully expanded to Beijing, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Guangzhou for eight editions. Some films have also been screened in New Zealand, Australia, and South Korea. In China, the project has been supported by the Beijing Film Academy, the most influential film school in Asia.

Documentary films on scientific topics have also been offered in collaboration with the China Science Education Film Studio. We are currently working on translating selected documentaries to be shown among the scientific and academic community of UNAM. With the support of UNAM entities (the Film Library and the National School of Languages, Linguistics, and Translation) and the Baturu Film and Culture Festival, the first Contemporary Chinese Film Series will be held at UNAM in the second semester of 2023.

Strategic alliances that have culminated in publications for the benefit of the public in both China and Mexico have been established concerning publishing promotion activities. Among the projects undertaken is the collaboration with Commercial Press, with morfe than 120 years of history, the largest and oldest publishing house in China, which has played an essential role in developing culture and education in this country. They have published Chinese translations for Miguel León-Portilla’s The Broken Spears: The Aztec Account of the Conquest of Mexico and The Reverse Side of the Conquest in a single volume available in Chinese bookstores. We are working on a new book to be presented at the end of this year: Cuentos y relatos mexicanos contemporáneos (Contemporary Mexican Stories and Tales), composed of selected works by five renowned UNAM writers translated into Chinese.

UNAM’s Office for Literature and Reading Promotion and the Secretariat of Institutional Development, with the support of the Chinese Writers Association, have collaborated with the Guangxi Normal University Press to publish two volumes of poetry. These volumes bring together the work of seven female poets from Mexico writing in their native languages—Arcoíris en una ráfaga de viento (Rainbows in a Gust of Wind)—and seven ethnic minority female poets from China— Los pliegues del ocaso (The Creases of Dusk)— with poems also written in native languages and respectively translated into Chinese and Spanish. These multilingual and multicultural editions give voice to women representing minorities in both countries: a unique work worldwide. In 2024 a presentation will take place in Mérida where some of these Chinese and Mexican poets will participate.

ALSO, WITH THE PRIVATE AND SOCIAL SECTORS
Regarding ties with business institutions, just after it’s creation, UNAM China began establishing close collaboration relationships with the Mexican Chamber of Commerce in China (Mexcham), which has resulted in lectures for students of UNAM’s Faculty of Accounting and Management as well as publications in magazines and participation in business forums. Due to this alliance, UNAM was part of the Hunan China-Latin America Forum in May 2023. On the other hand, we collaborate in identifying UNAM patents susceptible to being registered and licensed in China and advising on the registration and feasibility processes.

Finally, concerning social institutions and civil organizations, the China-Spain Researchers Network (RICE, Spanish initials) organized a panel with the participation of scientists from Mexico and Spain to disseminate research opportunities and experiences in China. With the Hispanic Women’s Network in Asia-Pacific, a panel was held to make the lives of Mexican women in this region more visible. There has also been a collaboration with the MX Talent Network Japan Chapter.

CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES
What we have presented here are some examples that reflect part of the linking and strengthening strategic alliances work by UNAM China to support UNAM’s internationalization project.

Today, one of the main challenges is to promote collaboration with Chinese HEIs in fields such as Engineering, Science, and Technological Innovation, where there is significant development potential for undergraduate and graduate students to carry out mobility. There is also great potential to promote joint research, particularly in areas that require international scientific collaboration, such as climate change, renewable energies, biotechnology, and artificial intelligence, to mention a few. China’s leadership as a scientific and technological power is fully recognized. This way, we seek to strengthen and diversify relations with the Chinese academic community, promoting scientific and technological exchanges between both countries. An important task ahead is to recover mobility indexes of the pre-pandemic times. In China, the closing of borders and travel restrictions jeopardized face to face interchange for three years. Nevertheless, an intense distance collaboration took place during this time. Currently, an hybrid model persists which helps to make expenses more efficient.

The institutional liaison work carried out by UNAM’s Office in China is highly relevant since it establishes and strengthens strategic relationships with academic, cultural, governmental, business, and social institutions in China and many other countries in the region. As the only UNAM representation in Asia, this office contributes significantly to UNAM’s internationalization project, to benefit our university community.

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