To further develop the level of scientific research for the International Education School/Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University, the College in June of 2018 formed an “International Understanding Research Team”. This team currently includes three professors, two associate professors, two lecturers, and tree teaching assistants which include four PhDs.

The academic team members represent Guangzhou University’s International Education School/Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University, School of Foreign Studies, School of Public Administration, Marketing Department and International Office. These team members include:

• Professor Li Yiis the team leader and Dean of the International Education School/Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University. He is primarily engaged in higher education internationalization and the research of understanding international education.

• Professor Xiao Kunxueis the Dean of the School of Foreign Studies. He is primarily engaged in the research of cognitive linguistics and cross-cultural communication.

• Professor Shen Benqiu, Ph.D., is a faculty member of the School of Public Administration. He is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and humanities exchange research between China and theUnited States.

• Associate ProfessorLiu Huichun, Ph.D., is the Dean of the Confucius Institute at Wesleyan College. He is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and international promotion of the Chinese language and culture.

• Cai Yifan is the Deputy Dean of the International Education School/ Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University. She is a deputy translator and reviewer and primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and Chinese-English translation practice research.

• Lecturer Zhou Qingyan, Ph.D., is the Director of the Research and Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language Office in the International Education School/ Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University. She is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and Chinese international education.

• Lecturer Wu Qianis the Chief of Staff of the Marketing Department. She is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and international cultural communication.

• Assistant ProfessorKe Zhicheng, Ph.D., is the Deputy Director of the International Office. He is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and internationalization of higher education.

• Assistant Professor Deng Yuhui is the Director of the International Student Affairs Office in the International Education School/Wesleyan College of Guangzhou University. He is primarily engaged in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

• Vivia Fowler, Ph.D., our American partner, is the President of Wesleyan College. She is primarily engaged in the research of international understanding and Sino-US education exchange and cooperation.

• Steve Farr, our American partner, is an International Advisor for Guangzhou University and Director of International Projects for the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities Secretariat Office. He is primarily engaged in the research of Eastern and Western cultural differences, intercultural communication and international organizations.

International understanding is an interdisciplinary study based upon the "trinity" of attitudes, knowledge, and abilities at both the macro and micro levels. These team members represent a wealth of knowledge, experience and academic backgrounds.

These academic backgrounds include five disciplines - education, linguistics, international law, international problem research and communication.

Team members have worked on more than ten national and provincial scientific research projects which include three national social science fund projects, one Ministry of Education humanities and social science fund project, two provincial social science planning projects, and eight projects from the provincial education department, municipal education department and municipal foreign expert bureaus.