On the afternoon of September 29, 2025, Professor Peter Boxall, Fellow of the British Academy, Editor-in-Chief of Textual Practice, an international top journal, and Professor of English at the University of Oxford, visited the Interdisciplinary Center for World Literature of Zhejiang University. He also met with the editorial team of Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature (A&HCI) and Forum for World Literature Studies (ESCI), two internationally indexed journals of the Center. Professor YANG Gexin, Director of the Center and Deputy Editor-in-Chief of journals, with his team, held in-depth discussions with Professor Boxall. Their dialogue centered on key issues in the field, including current trends in world literature research, strategies for international academic publishing, cross-cultural academic collaboration, journal development, and the application of AI in humanities research.
Professor YANG opened the meeting by introducing the founding background, evolution, and academic mission of the Center. Since its establishment in 2017, the Center has built a vibrant scholarly community devoted to interdisciplinary and cross-cultural dialogues, supported by its two flagship journals and the global network of the International Association for Ethical Literary Criticism (IAELC). He highlighted that Interdisciplinary Studies of Literature actively promotes the global dissemination of outstanding Chinese humanities scholarship, serving as a bridge for international academic exchange. Meanwhile, Forum for World Literature Studies deepens literary studies across regions in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative, providing a platform for engaging with non-Western literary traditions. Professor YANG noted the two journals serve as “twin engines” for the Center’s vision of global, interdisciplinary, and cross-cultural development.
Professor Boxall commended the Center’s achievements, particularly its role in advancing interdisciplinary research and fostering global collaboration. Drawing on his extensive editorial experience with Textual Practice, he shared the journal’s philosophy, key thematic focuses, such as textual theory, contemporary writing, and modernity, and its rigorous peer-review standards. He also offered insights to Chinese scholars on enhancing the international visibility of their work, emphasizing the importance of forward-looking topics, adherence to global academic writing norms, and active engagement with international scholarly debates.
Both sides reached a clear consensus. In an era marked by deepening globalization and rapid technological transformation, especially the rise of AI, the integration of interdisciplinary approaches and cross-cultural perspectives has been essential to driving innovation in world literature studies. Looking ahead, they expressed strong interest in collaboration across several areas, including journal initiatives, international conferences and workshops, and interdisciplinary projects exploring AI in humanities studies. This cooperation aims to develop new models of cross-cultural knowledge production and contribute fresh energy to the evolving landscape of world literature research.
The visit not only boosted ties between the Interdisciplinary Center for World Literature of Zhejiang University and leading international scholars and publications but also opened new pathways for the Center’s future global engagement, academic impact, and interdisciplinary exploration of the Center
Text/Photos: LOU Yu / CHEN Yubing
Organizer: Interdisciplinary Center for World Literature, Zhejiang University
Date: September 30, 2025
Translated by YU Jinbo, Proofread by XU Xueying
