A Lancaster University lecturer has been elected to lead a professional organisation which supports and enhances the quality and impact of Chinese language teaching, learning and research across the UK.

Dr Jocelin Lingxia Zhou, a Lecturer in Chinese and Programme Lead for Chinese Studies and Confucius Institute Teaching Lead at Lancaster University, has been elected as the new chair of the British Chinese Language Teaching Society (BCLTS).

BCLTS is the leading professional organisation supporting Chinese language teaching, learning and research across the UK.

The Society brings together educators, researchers and practitioners from schools, colleges and universities to promote excellence in Chinese language education and foster professional collaboration.

Dr Zhou succeeds to the Chair role after serving as Director for Membership and Communications for the Society, where she has played a key role in strengthening engagement across the Chinese language teaching community.

An experienced educator and researcher, Dr Zhou has taught Chinese language and culture at a number of internationally renowned institutions.

Prior to joining Lancaster University, she was a Chinese Lecturer at Princeton University and Teaching Lead for Advanced Chinese at Princeton in Beijing.

She has also held teaching positions at Waseda University, SOAS University of London and Beijing Normal University. Dr Zhou's research focuses on language pedagogy, language policy and planning, and language attitudes and ideologies.

At Lancaster University, Dr Zhou serves as Programme Lead for Chinese Studies and Confucius Institute Teaching Lead. She has developed a number of innovative initiatives designed to promote language learning, cultural understanding and international engagement.

Among these is the Chinese Friendship Programme, which she established to foster meaningful intercultural connections between students.

She has also organised numerous teacher-training workshops and professional development events for Chinese language educators across the UK.

In addition, Dr Zhou has co-led a range of public engagement and educational outreach activities, including live-streamed learning sessions in collaboration with the Terracotta Warriors Museum and the Jingdezhen Imperial Kiln Museum, enabling students and wider audiences to engage directly with China's rich cultural heritage.

Commenting on her election, Dr Zhou said: “I am deeply honoured to have been elected Chair of the British Chinese Language Teaching Society. Chinese language education plays an increasingly important role in fostering intercultural understanding and preparing students to engage with a globalised world.

“I look forward to working with colleagues across the sector to support teachers, promote innovative and inclusive approaches to language education, and strengthen the professional community that BCLTS represents.

“Together, we can continue to enhance the quality and impact of Chinese language teaching and learning throughout the UK.”

Interim Director of the Confucius Institute at Lancaster University and a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Dr Derek Hird said: "Jocelin is a globally respected educator and advocate for international Chinese language education, so it comes as no surprise that she has been elected Chair of the British Chinese Language Teaching Society.

“Her innovative approaches to Chinese language pedagogy, including the use of cutting-edge technology, will make a valuable contribution to BCLTS activities during her tenure."

And Dr Lianyi Song, a former chair and currently a senior consultant of the BCLTS, said: “The Chinese language teaching, like the teaching of many other languages, has been faced with new challenges in many fronts.

“We need a new vision, a strong leadership, and a creative mind to move forward. I, as well as other BCLTS members, believe that Dr Zhou is the right person to take the challenge, unite us all and lead BCLTS to a new height.”

Dr Zhou’s success follows the appointment last year of Dr Hird to the position of Chair of the Universities’ China Committee in London (UCCL).

The UCCL is an educational grant-giving charitable trust established in 1925 and formalised by Royal Charter in 1932. Its mission is to provide for a two-way flow of academic exchange between China and the UK, and to encourage China-focused studies in the UK.