Knowledge Exchange and Impact in the School of East Asian Studies

The School of East Asian Studies is committed to fostering positive change and celebrating diverse cultural narratives through innovative collaboration with communities. This ethos underpins a rich array of Knowledge Exchange (KE) and impact activities that span a diverse range of topics, including Uyghur identities, North Korean human rights, Japanese poetry and more. Read on to explore how the ongoing projects within the school are creating real impact in both local and global communities.

Professor Hugo Dobson: Global Summitry

Professor Dobson’s research focuses on global summitry, specifically the annual Group of 7 (G7) and Group of 20 (G20) summits, and the role of East Asian countries (particularly Japan) in these summits. In 2008, he attended his first summit as a fully accredited journalist reporting on events as they unfolded. Every year since then, he has attended most G7 and G20 summits.

Professor Dobson has participated in the formal engagement groups of these summits, the Think 7 (T7) and Think 20 (T20), which were both established to act as ‘ideas banks’ for the G7 and G20 leaders. His research has informed the discussions and recommendations of these engagement groups and in turn the summits themselves. These activities formed the basis of an impact case study in REF2021, that built on an earlier impact case study submitted to REF2014.

In addition to real-world impact, Professor Dobson has also engaged in knowledge exchange activities while working in the International Media Centre (IMC) at these summits. He has been interviewed by international, national and local media outlets in Japanese and English, including the Wall Street Journal, BBC News, China Daily, as well as Japan’s Asahi Shinbun. He has written several blogs for outlets like The Conversation and The Global Governance Project. He has also produced policy briefs and blogs, often in collaboration with students, for the journal Global Policy.

Dr. Peter Matanle: KE and Impact in ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance)

Dr. Peter Matanle’s research in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) criteria is pivotal in reshaping how industries integrate social considerations into their frameworks. His work confronts existing paradigms by investigating the complex interplay between social factors and corporate performance. This research is particularly significant as it guides businesses toward more holistic and sustainable practices, emphasising the importance of social dimensions in ESG.

A key outcome of Peter’s efforts is a comprehensive toolkit designed for industry practitioners, particularly investment bankers and financial advisors. This toolkit provides actionable insights and strategies that incorporate social considerations into investment advice, thereby influencing corporate behaviour toward socially responsible practices. By equipping professionals with tangible tools, Peter’s research fosters a deeper understanding of how social elements impact financial decision-making.

In collaboration with Nomura, a leading global financial institution, Peter and his team refined ESG approaches in East Asia. They focused on encouraging investors to make responsible decisions while urging companies to prioritise high employment standards. Notably, the "Social" pillar of ESG, often neglected, has become a central focus of their project, addressing a crucial gap in understanding its significance for corporate success.

Peter’s contributions extend beyond academia; he has published extensively with Nomura and has been featured in influential outlets such as the Financial Times. His article, “It’s a boys’ club: South Korea’s woeful record on women in work,” highlights pressing gender diversity issues in the South Korean workforce, demonstrating the social implications of his research.

His expertise has garnered recognition, leading to invitations to speak at high-profile events like the Seoul ESG Investment Conference. This engagement signifies the impact of his research on sustainable investment discussions and has fostered further KE initiatives in collaboration with the British Embassy and the British Chamber of Commerce in South Korea, particularly through their Empower Programme.

Dr. Thomas McAuley: Premodern Japanese Poetry and Criticism

Dr. Thomas McAuley’s research on premodern Japanese poetry, particularly the critique practices of judges in ancient poetry contests, illuminates the values and cultural references embedded in these works. By examining how judges evaluated poems, Thomas enriches our understanding of historical literary standards and their significance in Japanese culture.

In addition to this scholarly focus, Thomas investigates botanical gardens in Japan that feature flora mentioned in the Man'yōshū—Japan’s oldest poetry anthology. These gardens serve as cultural touchpoints, allowing visitors to appreciate nature while engaging with classic poetry and its historical context. Thomas’s research not only enhances cultural appreciation but also promotes these gardens as tourist attractions for both poetry lovers and nature enthusiasts.

To broaden the reach of his work, Thomas has significantly expanded his waka poetry-related social media activities and now has a presence on most major platforms (Facebook; Instagram; Threads; TikTok; YouTube), as well as a pre-existing presence on 'X' and, of course, www.wakapoetry.net. His outreach initiatives aim to engage diverse audiences, facilitating a growing community around waka poetry. A notable highlight was his public lecture at Japan House in London, titled “Seeds in the Heart and Leaves of Words,” where he traced the evolution of waka poetry from a social interaction tool among aristocrats to a refined art form.

Furthering his commitment to community engagement, Thomas participated in the university’s 2022 Festival of the Mind, collaborating with local artists to create an installation inspired by waka poetry titled “A Mirror it Does Seem.” This project not only showcases the artistic potential of poetry but also reinforces the cultural connections between past and present.

Dr. Sarah Son: North Korean Human Rights Advocacy with NGOs

Sarah is a leading expert on North Korean human rights issues. Her professional work in the NGO sector on North Korean human rights issues led to her current research which concentrates on methods of monitoring and recording human rights abuses in North Korea, and the potential applications of such research to the pursuit of accountability for human rights violations.

Her knowledge exchange and impact work focuses on several areas including:

• The transnational advocacy of the North Korean human rights movement
• The lives and experiences of North Korean refugees
• International engagement and foreign policy focussed on North Korea
• Planning for a potential future transitional justice process in North Korea
• Inter-Korean relations and identity politics

Sarah provides her expertise to the All Party Parliamentary Group on North Korea and the South Korean government and civil society groups working on North Korean human rights issues. She also consults with the media and other organisations requiring expertise on North and South Korean politics, society and culture. She publishes regularly in The Conversation and a number of other online outlets.

Dr. David Tobin: Uyghurs and Human Rights and its Impact on Policy-making

Dr. David Tobin specialises in Chinese politics, focusing on Uyghur identities and the state violence in Xinjiang. His research has garnered international attention, leading to contributions to the Uyghur Tribunal, where his findings underscore the urgent need for accountability regarding human rights abuses.

David’s work extends to crafting accessible reports on Chinese policies and the impact of transnational repression, which he has presented to influential bodies such as the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, All-Party Parliamentary China Group, and the US Congressional Executive Committee on China. His insights inform policy recommendations aimed at addressing the systemic challenges faced by the Uyghur community.

His expertise is frequently sought by media outlets, with David’s research appearing in major publications including the BBC, Financial Times, Wall Street Journal, The Guardian and The Telegraph. He  has conducted broadcast interviews for the BBC and the Conversation and is regularly quoted by international media outlets on Chinese politics and ethnic relations in Xinjiang, including the Wall Street Journal, Associated French Press, the Guardian, Vice, France 24, and the Straits Times.

David’s current and future research on China’s new ethnic policy focuses more broadly on Chinese politics. He leads the International Network for Critical China Studies (INCCS), fostering collaborations that leverage academic research to support NGOs and government sectors. His interdisciplinary project, “Documenting Uyghur Diaspora Voices,” utilises multimedia to share the narratives of Uyghurs separated from their families, enhancing the visibility of their experiences.

Further reading:

• The "Xinjiang Papers": How Xi Jinping commands policy in the PRC (youtube.com)
• China 'pressuring' Uyghurs abroad to spy - BBC News (youtube.com)
• When the field closes: conducting ethnographic research from afar

Dr. Mark Pendleton: Queer and Feminist Art from East Asia

Mark’s core interest lies in the history of twentieth-century Japan, and he also maintains active research interests in the histories of gender and sexuality, transnational social movement histories, the politics of violence and the relationship between memory and history. Mark has developed ongoing research interests in queer and feminist art practices from East Asia (primarily Japan) and on how art engages with social issues. He has been involved for several years with UK-based arts organisations and festivals, including the Japan Now festival, New Bridge Project, Submerge, Fierce and more.  

In recent years, Mark has been engaged in collaborative work with the organisation, Submerge, “a Manchester-based producing organisation, and international festival of innovative performance, music and creative technology, bringing together artists, audiences, and communities through radical live events which challenge the status quo”. Mark worked together with artists and creative directors to support the visit of leading contemporary artist Saeborg to Submerge and Fierce festivals in 2022. He continues to collaborate with both organisations in knowledge exchange activities, including as interim chair of Submerge since 2023, and on centring East Asian artists in both organisations’ programming.

Dr. Wayne Wong: Knowledge Exchange with Filmmakers and Impact on Hong Kong Cultural Identity

Dr. Wayne Wong’s scholarship on the cinematic representation of Hong Kong culture is instrumental in shaping public perceptions of Hong Kong identities. His expertise in martial arts cinema and its philosophical underpinnings provides a unique lens through which audiences can engage with the complexities of Hong Kong’s cultural history.

Wayne's collaboration with Eelyn Lee on projects like "Hong Kong Future Diaspora" explores the experiences of Hong Kongers in the UK, using workshops and public showcases to foster discussions around identity, food, and movement. This project highlights the dynamic narratives of Hong Kong culture in a diasporic context.

Additionally, Wayne’s involvement in Eelyn Lee’s "Four Quadrants of the Sky" showcases the creative potential of interdisciplinary collaborations. By creating mythical characters that reflect diasporic experiences, Wayne’s work deepens the understanding of cultural identity through storytelling and artistic expression.

His participation in events such as the roundtable “Supernatural Beings: Collective Mythmaking and Martial Arts Films” further illustrates his commitment to exploring the intersections of film and philosophy, highlighting how martial arts cinema embodies cultural memories.

Wayne's engagement with the East and Southeast Asian community in Sheffield was highlighted at "Intersecting Narratives: Art, Identity, and the ESEA Experience in Sheffield." As a panellist alongside Sheffield-based artist Clara Cheung and chaired by Dr. Panni Loh, Wayne examined interpretations of home and belonging within the ESEA diaspora. This discussion, part of the "Journeys from the East to Sheffield" exhibition and coinciding with British East South-East Asian Heritage Month, allowed Wayne to merge scholarly insights with artistic expression, enriching the dialogue on diaspora experiences and cultural identity. The event underscored his impact on public understanding of East Asian cultural narratives in the UK.

Wayne also organised screening events that explored the representation of Hong Kong identities in cinema following the 2019 protests, contextualising them in the UK. He moderated a discussion after screenings of Blue Island (2022) and The Battle of Orgreave (2001) at the School of Digital Arts, Manchester Metropolitan University, facilitating an exploration of how art serves as a dissenting tool in reshaping memory, history, and identity. This event, part of a series across the UK, highlighted Wayne's role in articulating complex historical narratives through cinematic and artistic expressions.

These collaborations reflect Wayne's commitment to exploring the complexities of Hong Kong cultural identity through interdisciplinary and international perspectives.