Image of Image of 'Study the past to understand the present' banner

China Forum, Jesus College

The China Forum aims to deepen mutual understanding between China and the West by 'studying the past to understand the present' (jian gu zhi jin).

The Forum organises and hosts interdisciplinary seminars involving scholars, policy makers and business people. The forthcoming and past events represent a wide array of views in order to contribute to mutual understanding between China and the West.

The China Forum is committed to maintaining academic freedom, including freedom of speech and expression.

Global challenges confronting humanity include health pandemics, species extinction, global warming, inequality of income and wealth, concentration of global business power, and instability of the global financial system. Both developed and developing countries are searching for non-ideological and pragmatic governance of the global political economy in order to meet the common interests of humanity, present and future.

Appreciating the history of China’s philosophy, politics, economy, society and culture enables a greater understanding of China today, and can contribute to harmonious global governance at this crossroads in human civilisation.

People

The China Forum is run by the Director and Deputy Director with support from the Administrator.  The Forum works with a wide range of people to deliver its seminar programme.

Director – Professor Peter Nolan CBE
Professor Peter Nolan has researched, written, and taught on a wide range of issues in economic development, globalisation, and the transition of former planned economies.
Tel: +44 (0)1223 760625
Email: phn21@cam.ac.uk

Deputy Director – Professor Hans van de Ven
Professor Hans van de Ven is a Fellow of St Catharine’s College and Professor of Modern Chinese History in the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies.
Email: jjv10@cam.ac.uk

Administrator – Denise Hayles
Tel: +44 (0)1223 760625
Email: China Forum Administrator

Background

In April 2016 Jesus College signed an agreement with Peking University to establish a China Centre at the College.  The China Centre launched its series of interdisciplinary academic seminars in February 2019.  In 2022, following a detailed review of the China Centre by a panel of academics, Jesus College announced that the Centre would be restructured and renamed the China Forum.

Governance

The China Forum seminar programme is organised by the Director in consultation with the China Forum Management Group.  The Management Group consists of the Director, Professor Peter Nolan, the Deputy Director, Professor Hans van de Ven, and Jesus College Emeritus Fellow Dr Jana Howlett.  The Forum’s activities are overseen by the China Forum Committee which reports to College Council.

The China Forum has published its Annual Report covering 2023.

Funding

Following a review of the China Centre, the China Forum has been funded directly by Jesus College since the start of the 2022-23 academic year. 

Other information

Visit our Data Protection page for further information about how we deal with your data.

The College has a wide range of global initiatives, some of which have been in collaboration with Chinese organisations. Our work with China webpage contains details of all of our strategic work with China.

University of Peking’s Summer School in China

We are pleased to be able to offer funding for travel to China thanks to the generosity of the Marshall Foundation.

Also in this section:

Photograph of ice melt

Forthcoming events

The China Forum organises seminars and dialogues focusing on mutual understanding.

Forthcoming events
Detail of Liangzhu culture man and beast motif

Past events

Our past events include seminars, book launches, workshops and mutual understanding dialogues that have taken place in the China Forum.

Past events

Hear from our students

  • Photo of postgraduate student

    Ellie

    Postgraduate

    Jesus College has been a great home for me during my PhD. I chose Jesus College for a number of reasons – first, the location. We are central enough to be within easy walking distance of most things, but far enough away to avoid the hustle and bustle (and tourists in summer!). The College also has extensive grounds, with amenities like the hockey pitch, football pitch and tennis courts all on site. Secondly, the accommodation is some of the best I’ve seen in Cambridge. My house was newly renovated when...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Jesus College Postgraduate Student

    Imogen

    Postgraduate

    I chose Cambridge for my PGCE as it’s the leading UK institution for teacher training and Education, with an exciting, research-dominated, cutting edge course. The staff are welcoming and approachable, and make studying here an absolute joy. I’ve already completed one of my three primary school placements, in a reception class in a school just outside Cambridge, and am due to start the next one soon. I chose Jesus because of its reputation as a sporty College, but the proximity to the city centre is a big bonus. Jesus also...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Postgraduate at Jesus College

    Dolly

    Postgraduate

    I chose Jesus College because of the great mixture of undergraduates and postgraduates, and when I first visited I thought it was the most beautiful place I had ever seen! The sense of community in Jesus has had an enormous impact on my experience here. Whether you need help, advice, cheering up or even just a chat there is always someone there to put a smile on your face. From the MCR committee to the Porters, the canteen staff to the gardeners, everyone is so friendly and welcoming. Jesus also...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Photograph of a postgraduate student

    Matthew

    Postgraduate

    Jesus College has been at the heart of my Cambridge experience. I chose the College because I was impressed by its distinctive blend of academic rigour and extracurricular achievement. A College for all-rounders, Jesus is a lively and rewarding place to study. I couldn’t be happier here! Friendly and engaged, the Jesus postgraduate community never ceases to impress me. At ease with themselves and forever curious, my peers go out of their way to cultivate a sense of camaraderie. After a day of leafing through old manuscripts at the National...

    Read more
    Postgraduate
  • Postgraduate at Jesus College

    Tom

    Postgraduate

    There are many reasons why I’m so happy to be a part of Jesus College. The three biggest reasons for me are the opportunities to be involved in College sport, the support the College provides for me with for my research and the help in making sure that we have comfortable, affordable accommodation when we have needed it. Jesus College is so friendly and so it is incredibly easy to get involved in the sport and social side of the College. The MCR does a great job in welcoming new...

    Read more
    Postgraduate