Colin Mackerras

The Colin Mackerras Chair in Australian Studies Program was established on Wednesday in Beijing to honor the professor's contribution to the educational and intellectual exchanges between China and Australia.

The chair program was jointly launched by the Australian Studies Center at Beijing Foreign Studies University and the Foundation for Australian Studies in China.

Li Jianjun, director of the center, said highly qualified Australian scholars will participate in the chair program, and BFSU and FASIC will work together on the appointment of the chair.

Starting from the autumn semester next year, the tenure of a chairperson at the center will be 4 weeks to 18 weeks each time.

The main responsibilities of the chair are to teach two courses to students from both BFSU and other universities in Beijing and to help supervise students' research at the center, Li said.

The celebration of Colin Mackerras' 60th anniversary of teaching at BFSU is held on June 5, 2024. [Provided to China Daily]

The chair program was established in the name of Colin Mackerras, emeritus professor at Griffith University in Australia and an expert in Australia-China relations and Chinese culture.

Born in Australia in 1939, Mackerras has visited China nearly 70 times and taught at BFSU, first from 1964 to 1966 and many times since then, contributing to the educational exchanges between the two countries.

Mackerras, a winner of the Friendship Award from the Chinese government, has written or edited over 40 books about China.

The celebration of Colin Mackerras' 60th anniversary of teaching at BFSU was held on Wednesday, when his friends, colleagues and students made remarks on his academic achievements and shared their personal friendship.

The celebration of Colin Mackerras' 60th anniversary of teaching at BFSU is held on June 5, 2024. [Provided to China Daily]