The Chinese Program Hosts the 3rd International Conference on Chinese for Specific Purposes at Duke
Participants and speakers at the 3rd International Conference on Chinese for Specific and Professional Purposes (CSP)
The Chinese Program successfully hosted the 3rd International Conference on Chinese for Specific and Professional Purposes (CSP) on May 16-17, 2025. Sponsored by Duke's Asian/Pacific Studies Institute (APSI) and the Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies (AMES), this hybrid event brought together 94 registered participants—including more than 20 attending in person—from across the U.S., mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the UK.
The conference opened with a roundtable discussion on May 16, focusing on the development of CSP and interdisciplinary Chinese courses. Colleagues from diverse institutions shared insights, ongoing efforts, and challenges in designing such programs, highlighting the evolving needs of CSP education across global contexts.
The full-day symposium on May 17 was launched with warm welcome remarks from Dr. Deb Reisinger, Dean of Undergraduate Education, Dr. Shai Ginsburg, Chair of AMES, and Dr. Yan Liu, Director of the Chinese Program. They reflected on the significance of CSP and Duke’s commitment to advancing language education through innovative and rigorous initiatives.
The first keynote speaker, Dr. Minjie Xing (University of Manchester), delivered a timely and thought-provoking presentation on the development of CSP in the UK, including her research on students’ use and perceptions of AI tools in language learning. The second plenary speaker, Mr. Chad Duhon (Executive Director for Cloud Service Provider Segment Finance and Operations at Lenovo and a Duke alumni) offered a compelling personal account of his professional experiences in China. His talk underscored the importance of linguistic and cultural competence in today’s interconnected world and prompted rich reflections on what CSP educators—particularly in Business Chinese—should prioritize beyond language instruction alone. In addition to the keynote talks, twelve engaging presentations showcased innovative CSP course designs and pedagogical approaches. These sessions sparked dynamic discussions and fostered valuable exchange among participants.
The Duke Chinese Program extends sincere thanks to its co-organizer, the Chinese Program at the University of Pennsylvania, and four dedicated reviewers—Dr. Gang Liu (Carnegie Mellon University), Dr. Jennifer Li-Chia Liu (Harvard University), Dr. Zhongqi Shi (Columbia University), and Dr. Ye Tian (University of Pennsylvania); and to all participants for their invaluable contributions to making this conference a success.