May 2026 in Madison: 8th Annual UW-PKU Workshop on Higher Education

May 2026 Workshop Theme:

Academic Internationalism in Turbulent Times

Click here to see the conference program!

ORGANIZERS:

Adam Nelson, John L. Thomas (WARF) Professor and Vilas Distinguished Achievement Professor of Educational Policy Studies and History at the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Shen Wenqin, Associate Professor of Higher Education at the Graduate School of Education, Peking University

DATE: May 18-19, 2026

LOCATION: Wisconsin Idea Room, Education Building, 1000 Bascom Mall, UW-Madison

HOTEL: Fluno Center, 601 University Avenue, Madison, WI 53715

The workshop begins!

The 8th Annual UW-PKU Workshop on Higher Education was held in Madison May 18-19 and started with introductions of participants.

Scrapbook page for the opening of a workshop

Welcome remarks!

Opening remarks were offered by UW-Madison Education Professor Adam Nelson, and International Studies Dean Frances Vavrus.

Paper 1, "Pasts" theme

WANG Chen of Beijing Normal University served as the discussant for Professor Nelson's paper focused on U.S. history.

Speaker at a workshop holding a microphone.

Paper 2, "Pasts" theme

WANG Liping of Peking University offered a presentation on 1930s-50s education theories.

Scrapbook-style page of break times at a workshop

Tea break time!

Participants had many chances to talk informally together during each workshop day.

Presenter holding a microphone at an education event.

Paper 3, "Pathways" theme

SHEN Wenqin of Peking University, one of the workshop organizers, spoke about international student mobility.

Paper 4, "Pathways" theme

ZHA Qiang of York University in Toronto spoke about recent surveys of international students in Canada.

Roundtable with speakers sitting around it for a workshop on higher education.

Workshop Day Two

The conversation continued in the Education Building's "Wisconsin Idea Room."

Panelists seated around a table for a workshop

Paper 5, "People" theme

HUANG Futao of Hiroshima University in Japan discussed his findings about geopolitical pressures on international students.

Paper 6, "People" theme

ZHENG Lei of Peking University attended via Zoom to present her paper on talent cultivation in China.

Scrapbook-style page of photos from a workshop.

Lively discussions!

Each paper included time for remarks by a discussant and comments from the workshop participants and the audience.

Paper 7, "Power" theme

Jingjing LOU of Beloit College in Wisconsin presented her research about African students in Chinese higher education.

Paper 8, "Power" theme

XIE Ailei and LI Tianshu of South China Normal University listened to comments on their paper from Chris Kirchgasler, UW-Madison.

Workshop participants gathered in the Education building and waving.

Group photo

The conclusion of the 8th Annual workshop!
Looking forward to next year in Beijing!

"We have an obligation to set an example of 'academic internationalism in turbulent times' by getting together in each other's home countries for wide-ranging discussions."
Education Professor Adam Nelson of UW-Madison on the theme of the 8th Annual UW-PKU Workshop