The Belt and Road Research Center (BRRC) at the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of a productive Visiting Fellow term (June to December of 2025) for three scholars in December 2025. The fellowship includes three scholars, Prof. Long Hai, Prof. Jun Xue, and Dr. Yajing Zhao, from School of Social Sciences, Henan Normal University. It represents a key component of the ongoing partnership between the two institutions, through a Memorandum of Understanding between AIT and HNU signed in August 2024, culminating in a strategic meeting with AIT faculty to consolidate research synergies and plan future joint endeavors.
Throughout the fellowship period, the three scholars actively engaged with the AIT community, fulfilling the fellowship’s core objectives. Their work focused on critical areas of mutual interest, including social policy administration and sustainable development in rural and ethnic communities in global south. A highlight of their tenure was the organization of thematic discussions with AIT’s Gender and Development Studies (GDS) program and faculties including Professor Kyoko Kusakabe and Dr. Duanghathai Buranajaroenkij, on December 12th, 2025, where they exchanged expertise and explored interdisciplinary approaches to common development challenges. These activities directly supported the fellowship’s goal of fostering closer connections and laying the groundwork for substantive cooperative projects.
The conclusion of this fellowship marks not an end, but a significant milestone in the sustained academic partnership between AIT and Henan Normal University. It strengthens institutional ties and identifies clear pathways for continued collaboration, including potential student exchanges and joint research initiatives. BRRC is confident that the relationships and ideas cultivated during this term will yield lasting impacts, furthering our shared mission to promote innovative research and capacity building for sustainable development in the region.