Call for Papers|Co-creation and Reshaping: International Symposium on Chinese Cultural Inheritance and Communication among Overseas Chinese

Culture is the spiritual lifeblood of a nation. As carriers, communicators, and innovators of Chinese culture, overseas Chinese serve as vital bridges connecting China and the world, playing an irreplaceable role in the overseas inheritance of Chinese culture and the mutual appreciation of world civilizations. Currently, the shifting landscape of globalization intertwines with the collision of civilizations, while digital media reshapes the communication environment. Consequently, the inheritance and communication of Chinese culture among overseas Chinese face new opportunities and challenges. How to break through bottlenecks in cultural inheritance, innovate communication approaches, promote the coexistence and integration of Chinese culture with diverse global cultures, and enhance international understanding and recognition of China through cultural communication has become urgent and important topics for in-depth academic discussion.

To establish a platform for international academic exchange, bring together leading scholars, and explore the theoretical and practical issues surrounding the inheritance and communication of Chinese culture among overseas Chinese, with the support of China News Service and the Li Ka Shing Shantou University Foundation, Shantou University, in collaboration with the International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for History of Journalism and Mass Communication, plans to host the "Co-creation and Reshaping: International Symposium on Chinese Cultural Inheritance and Communication among Overseas Chinese" from November 28 to 29, 2026. This symposium aims to build a high-end, interdisciplinary, and cross-regional platform for academic dialogue. It will focus on strengthening the sense of identity and communicative capacity of the younger generation of overseas Chinese in the context of globalization and digitalization, addressing new challenges in cultural inheritance, and exploring innovative communication and sustainable development strategies for Chinese culture abroad.

We now invite paper submissions from scholars in related fields at universities, research institutions, and academic organizations worldwide. The specific details are as follows:

I. Symposium Organization

· Hosts: Shantou University; International Communication Committee of the Chinese Association for History of Journalism and Mass Communication

· Organizers: Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communication, Shantou University; International Research Center for Chinese Cultural Communication, Shantou University

· Special Support: China News Service; Li Ka Shing Shantou University Foundation

II. Symposium Topics

The symposium focuses on, but is not limited to, the following topics. Research that utilizes interdisciplinary methods and cutting-edge theories is particularly encouraged:

1. History, Theory, and Paradigm

1) Historical Context and Contemporary Reality: Historical changes, theoretical evolution, and contemporary characteristics of intergenerational cultural inheritance among overseas Chinese.

2) Theoretical Paradigms and Methodological Innovation: Theoretical reflections, interdisciplinary methods, and emerging research directions in the study of cultural communication among overseas Chinese.

2. Regional, National, and Comparative Studies

3) Comparative Regional and National Studies: Cross-regional comparisons of localized expressions, identity negotiation, and communication strategies of Chinese culture in overseas Chinese communities.

4) Cultural Inheritance and Intergenerational Communication in Global Chinese Communities: Analysis focusing on cultural inheritance patterns, intergenerational differences, and communication effects in Chinese communities across different countries and regions.

3. Digital Media, Big Data, and Identity Construction

5) Digital Media and Identity Negotiation: Reconstruction of cultural identity, virtual communities, and identity negotiation of the new generation of Chinese under the digital media ecology.

6) Digital Footprints and Cultural Identity: Big data research on overseas Chinese communication, exploring the dynamic evolution and communication patterns of cultural identity based on social media data, search behavior, and digital footprints.

7) Research on Cultural Identity in the Digital Age: Examining the influencing factors and mechanisms of cultural identity formation among overseas Chinese in a digital environment.

4. Communication Practice, Effects, and Innovation

8) Communication Innovation for the New Generation: Ancestral cultural communication, educational approaches, and innovative models targeting the younger generation of Chinese descent.

9) Research on the Inheritance and Communication of Chinese Culture on Social Media: Analyzing the mechanisms, content production, and communication effects of social media platforms in the inheritance of culture among overseas Chinese.

10) Empirical and Effects Research on the International Communication of Chinese Culture in Intercultural Contexts: Examining the acceptance, understanding, and influence of Chinese culture based on audience analysis and effects evaluation frameworks.

11) Fieldwork and Ethnographic Research: Field investigations, community practices, and ethnographic studies on the communication of traditional culture among overseas Chinese.

5. Intercultural Communication: Theory, Practice, and Dialogue

12) Beyond Ethnic Boundaries: Theoretical frontiers and global practices of intercultural communication, including but not limited to:

• Theoretical elaboration, critical reflections, and identity construction in intercultural communication

• Meaning negotiation and media narrative in intercultural interaction.

6. Overseas Chaoshan (Teoswa) Cultural Inheritance and Communication

13) The inheritance and communication of overseas Chaoshan (Teoswa) cultural forms, such as language, opera, ancestral halls, food, and customs, including but not limited to:

• The continuity, transformation, and dissemination through associations and festivals of Chaoshan culture overseas.

• Intergenerational inheritance, youth identity, and digital innovation of Chaoshan culture.

7. New Technologies and Future Landscapes

14) AI, Digital Heritage, and Future Communication: The formation of Chinese cultural identity in the context of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and the Metaverse.

15) Cross-cultural Research on Chinese Cultural Digital Heritage: Exploring the application and impact of digital technology in the preservation, dissemination, and cross-cultural reception of Chinese cultural heritage.

8. Open Topics

16) Other topics related to the symposium theme.

III. Submission Guidelines and Related Matters

· Submission Requirements: Both abstracts and full papers are accepted. Abstracts should be no less than 800 words; full papers should not exceed 10,000 words, including abstract, tables, figures, and references.

· Submission Deadline: August 30, 2026

1. Participants should send their abstracts or full papers as email attachments to the designated symposium email address by August 30, 2026. The email subject should follow the format: "Affiliation + Name + Title."

2. Papers should be submitted in Word format. For English submissions, please use 12-point Times New Roman with a standard citation style (e.g., APA); for Chinese submissions, use Songti 4 for title, and Songti Small 4 (xiao si) for main text. Citations should use footnotes, with numbering restarting on each page.

3. The symposium organizing committee will review the submissions and issue formal invitation letters to selected participants.

4. There is no registration or meal fee for this symposium. Participants are responsible for their own transportation and accommodation expenses.

Submission Email (Papers or Abstracts): stu.xwxy.conference@gmail.com

Contact Persons & Inquiry Emails:

· Dr. Zhou: syzhou@stu.edu.cn

· Dr. Ji: xiaoyuji@stu.edu.cn

Cheung Kong School of Journalism and Communication, Shantou University

April 30, 2026