April 09, 2026 The Update is a regular roundup of news in the Department of Asian Studies for our students, faculty and staff. |
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Top Stories • Featured Summer Courses • In The Media • Upcoming Events • Event Recap • Opportunities • On & Off-Campus Events |
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In community hands: Sustaining language and culture in a digital world The Collaborative Digital Heritage Studio, founded by Assistant Professor Aynur Kadir, is working with Indigenous and minoritized communities around the world to document, share, and strengthen cultural and linguistic knowledge through digital tools and community-led research. |
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Asian Studies Courses To Take in Summer 2026 Still thinking about courses to take this summer term? Check out our recommendations for Asian Studies courses in terms 1 and 2, spanning topics from history and religion to literature and popular culture. All courses are open to all students, no pre-requisites required! Back to top |
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| UPCOMING EVENTS | ||||||
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The 38th Annual BC Japanese Speech Contest: A Celebration of Language and Culture On March 7, the Japanese Language Program at UBC Vancouver hosted the 38th Annual BC Japanese Speech Contest. The event drew Japanese language learners from across BC, who used the occasion to test their skills and talk about topics that are important to them. |
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Cantonese Fun Night 2026: Celebrating A Decade of the Cantonese Language Program On March 17, the Cantonese Language Program celebrated its 10th anniversary with a vibrant Cantonese Fun Night at the AMS Great Hall, drawing more than 100 attendees for an evening of music, performance, and community celebration. Students, alumni, and members of the UBC Hong Kong Yours Association gathered to honour a decade of language learning and cultural engagement. Back to top |
| OPPORTUNITIES |
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Call for Papers – Pure Land Buddhism and the Great Earth The Robert H. N. Ho Family Foundation Program in Buddhism and Contemporary Society at the University of British Columbia and the International Association of Shin Buddhist Studies invite paper proposals that explore Pure Land Buddhism in relation to the “Great Earth” broadly understood. Papers may center on any geographical region, historical period, or methodological approach. Deadline for submissions is April 30. Call for Papers – 6th International Conference on Teaching Persian Language & Literature The 6th International Conference on Teaching Persian Language will explore how language education can remain meaningful and effective in the age of artificial intelligence, with a focus on innovative, human-centered, and community-based approaches. Participants are invited to share research, classroom-based experiences, curricular models, and assessment practices that address learners’ intellectual, cultural, and social needs. Abstracts are due by May 1. Back to top |
| ON & OFF-CAMPUS EVENTS |
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April 9 CES Student Research Fellows Showcase April 13 Arts Student Showcase on Digital & Computational Scholarship April 13 UBC Reads Sustainability with Kate Marvel April 15 UBC Farm Community Workshops: Dim Sum & Jazz April 19 April 23 2026 CMS Migration & Integration Conference April 27 UBC Language Sciences 7th Annual Postdoc & Graduate Research Day April 30 May 27 Back to top |
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