Dr Ronald Torrance, Lecturer in the Department of Languages, Education and Cultures at the Sino-British College (SBC), represented SBC-USST at the Fourth International Academic Forum on Xue Mo’s Works, held in Beijing on 17 June 2026.
The forum brought together leading academics, translators and writers working in the fields of Chinese literature and Translation Studies to discuss the works and international reception of contemporary Chinese author Xue Mo (雪漠). Among other positions, Xue Mo is a cultural scholar, China's National First-class Writer, and Vice President of Gansu Writers Association. Participants attended from across China and overseas, including colleagues from the United States, Germany, India, Ireland and the Netherlands, providing a valuable platform for international scholarly exchange and collaboration.
The Fourth International Academic Forum on Xue Mo's Works, Beijing
The forum followed a series of academic engagements by Dr Torrance relating to Xue Mo’s work. On 26 May 2026, he delivered a keynote lecture exploring the themes of entropy, empathy and ethics in Xue Mo’s fiction. Building on this research, Dr Torrance subsequently facilitated a one-to-one dialogue with Xue Mo on 16 June, discussing key themes in the author’s writing and exploring wider questions surrounding creativity, international readership, literature and life.
Dr Ronald Torrance in conversation with author Xue Mo
Throughout the forum, scholars presented new research on Chinese literary studies and literary translation, creating opportunities for discussion of contemporary Chinese literature and its growing global impact. The event enabled participants to exchange ideas, strengthen international academic networks and identify opportunities for future collaboration.
Dr Torrance’s research on Xue Mo has also been selected for inclusion in the forthcoming second Routledge volume dedicated to studies of Xue Mo’s work, which is scheduled for publication later this year.
By participating in international academic forums of this kind, SBC continues to contribute to global scholarly dialogue and strengthen its engagement with leading researchers and institutions across a range of disciplines and regions.
