Press Release

The 2nd “Crossing Region and Interdisciplinary” Postgraduate International Academic Conference, organised by the Institute of International Education at New Era University College (NEUC), was held on 19–20 July 2025. Following the its inaugural edition in 2024, the conference in 2025 carried the theme “Multidisciplinary Approaches to Tradition and Innovation in a Globalised World.”

Assoc. Prof. Dr Tey Shi Bin, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Corporate Development) of NEUC, stated that the conference not only offered postgraduate students a platform to showcase their research but also fostered cross-cultural and interdisciplinary academic dialogue. The university will continue to organise similar international academic events to promote scholarly exchange and collaboration, achieving the goal of mutual growth in teaching and research.

Prof. Dr Voon Phin Keong, Academic Director, delivered a keynote speech titled “Place Names of East Asia: Unity in Diversity in Spatial Organisation and Cultural Identity”, delving into the cultural connotations and historical origins of East Asian place names. Prof Voon highlighted that East Asia's toponymic system reflects a cultural logic of spatial unity, carrying shared historical memories while demonstrating the profound influence of Chinese traditional culture on regional naming systems.

The two-day conference covered multiple disciplines, including Sinology, education, literary studies, cultural studies, contemporary China studies, business administration, linguistics, and literature. Participants engaged in in-depth discussions through paper presentations and expert feedback. Notably, a special workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Academic Writing” was conducted by Assist. Prof. Dr Ang Yang Yi, Dean of the Faculty of Computing and Innovative Technology. Dr Ang provided professional guidance on the appropriate use of AI tools like ChatGPT and DeepSeek to assist in academic writing while cautioning against overreliance on such technologies.