Beyond Chinatown: The Social Construction of Canadian Education—Immigration and the Survival Narratives of Chinese Canadians

On August 19, 2026, the "Global Competence Workshop" series lecture, organized by the JUFE School of Sociology and Humanities, was held on the Mailu Campus. Professor Fu Qiang, an endowed professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), delivered a lecture titled "Beyond Chinatown: The Social Construction of Canadian Education—Immigration and the Survival Narratives of Chinese Canadians," moderated by Professor Liang Bo. Young faculty members and students participated.

Drawing on his interdisciplinary expertise in demography, sociology, and computational social science, as well as qualitative field research in Chinese communities, Professor Fu explored how Canada's education system and immigration policies shape the survival strategies and social embeddedness of the Chinese community. He presented individual narratives from in-depth interviews and field observations across multiple provinces, examining how federal and provincial immigration policies, the public education system, and professional certification frameworks influence Chinese families' educational decisions, career paths, and intergenerational mobility. Professor Fu also emphasized that Chinese sociologists should carry forward the intellectual traditions of Wu Wenzao, Pan Guangdan, and Fei Xiaotong, and redefine social facts within the Chinese context.

This lecture deepened cross-cultural understanding of the "education-migration" nexus and inspired academic awareness of examining global society from a Chinese perspective, providing a model for cultivating professionals with both local concerns and an international perspective.