NCA Strengthens Global Partnerships through International Collaboration in China
The National Communication Association (NCA) continues to increase its global involvement through meaningful international partnerships and collaboration. In May, NCA First Vice President Shaunak Sastry visited Xiamen, China, for an international conference co-hosted by NCA and organized in conjunction with Past President Stephen Hartnett and several NCA members.
The conference brought together communication scholars, students, university administrators, and NCA members from both the U.S. and China to discuss matters, strengthen academic relations, and explore collaboration possibilities. It demonstrates NCA’s long-term interest in supporting dialogue and developing the field of communication internationally.
This collaboration is the next step in the process initiated by the presidency of Stephen Hartnett, who considered international partnerships one of the core aspects of NCA’s mission. The conference in Xiamen illustrates how continued involvement helps establish long-term connections between scholars and institutions around the globe.
For Sastry, the conference also becomes an element of his vision for NCA’s future, stressing the expansion of its international activities through avenues such as the NCA Annual Convention, partnerships, collaborative research, faculty exchange, and international programming that help communication scholars throughout the year.
“Global engagement is vital for the future of communication research and education,” Sastry said. “By establishing solid partnerships with colleagues all over the world, we get the opportunity to promote innovations, collaborate and learn from each other, benefiting our members and our discipline as a whole.”
Throughout the conference, participants discussed emerging topics in communication research, exchanged opinions on global issues, and searched for ways to enhance academic cooperation between institutions in China and the U.S. Thus, it provided a beneficial opportunity for networking, mentoring, and cross-cultural dialogue among well-established scholars and emerging researchers.
To commemorate the visit and its outcomes, Sastry and Hartnett have developed a report that highlights the conference results and underscores the importance of continued international collaboration.
Thus, looking to the future, international partnerships remain the core element of NCA’s mission regarding the advancement of communication scholarship and the international community.
