Dr Ning Zhang
Program Director
School of Humanities
College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities
Dr Ning Zhang is a Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies, Program Director for the legacy Master of Arts (Interpreting, Translation and Transcultural Communication), and Acting Program Director for the legacy Bachelor of Languages and the Diploma in Languages in the School of Humanities.
Dr Zhang has held long-term, significant leadership roles within the university and the community, including Deputy Dean (International, Faculty of Arts, University of Adelaide, 2020-2022), Associate Head (International, School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Economics, University of Adelaide, 2023-2025), Head of Department (Asian Studies, 2024–2025), and Program Director (Master of Arts (Interpreting, Translating and Transcultural Communication), 2016–present).
Dr Zhang served as a Member of the Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, South Australia (SAMEAC, 2018–2021); President of the Asia Pacific Business Council for Women SA (2013–2015); and Ambassador of the OzAsia Festival, South Australia (2009–2026). She has made valuable contributions to Chinese language teaching and curriculum in South Australian secondary education in a leading role (2013–present). She is a NAATI-certified interpreter and translator (English<->Chinese).
Dr Zhang’s research interests focus on Australian higher education, including innovative curriculum design and the development of learning resources for second-language learning, cross-cultural communication, and translation studies and skills training. Dr Zhang also researches education policy changes in China.
| Date | Position | Institution name |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 - ongoing | Program director | Adelaide University |
| 2023 - ongoing | Lead Practitioner | SACE Board SA |
| 2023 - 2025 | Associate Head (International) | University of Adelaide |
| 2020 - 2022 | Deputy Dean (International) | University of Adelaide |
| 2018 - 2021 | Member | Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, South Australia |
| 2017 - 2023 | Director | University of Adelaide |
| 2016 - 2025 | Program Director | University of Adelaide |
| 2007 - 2017 | Deputy Director | University of Adelaide |
| 1993 - 2008 | Member | Subject Advisory Committee (Mandarin Chinese), SSABSA |
| Language | Competency |
|---|---|
| Chinese (Mandarin) | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| English | Can read, write, speak, understand spoken and peer review |
| Date | Institution name | Country | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 - 2005 | University of Adelaide | Australia | PhD |
| 1994 - 1995 | University of Adelaide | Australia | Graduate Diploma in Education |
| 1985 - 1987 | University of Queensland | Australia | Master of Educational Studies |
| Date | Title | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | NAATI Certified Translator | National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters. | Australia |
| 1989 | NAATI Certified Interpreter | National Accreditation Authority for Translators and Interpreters | Australia |
| Year | Citation |
|---|---|
| 2006 | Zhang, N. (2006). The Philosophy of Vocational Education and Its Practice in Australia. In Z. Jiaoyu, & J. Yanjiu (Eds.), Studies of fundamental Issues on Vocational Education (1 ed., pp. 184-204). China: Educational Science Press, Beijing. |
| 1992 | Zhang, N. (1992). A Conflict of Interests: Current Problems in Educational Reform. In A. Watson (Ed.), Economic Reform and Social Change in China (1st ed., pp. 144-170). London: Routledge. |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Co-Supervisor | Apropos of ideology: a critique of relevance on official Chinese to English translation of government and party documents | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Part Time | Mr Ningfei Dang |
| Date | Role | Research Topic | Program | Degree Type | Student Load | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2014 | Co-Supervisor | The Effectiveness and Appropriateness of the Use of Contemporary Chinese Popular Literature in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language: An Emperical Study in an Australian University Setting | Doctor of Philosophy | Doctorate | Full Time | Miss Xiuming Chen |
| Date | Role | Board name | Institution name | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 - 2021 | Member | Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, South Australia (SAMEAC) | Department of the Premier and Cabinet | Australia |
| Date | Role | Committee | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 - 2015 | President | Asia Pacific Business Council for Women SA | Asia Pacific Business Council for Women SA | Australia |
| Date | Role | Membership | Country |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 - ongoing | Representative | Australian Institute of Interpreters and Translators (AUSIT) | Australia |
| Date | Title | Engagement Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 - 2026 | Ambassador | Public Community Engagement | OzAsia Festival, South Australia | Australia |
| Date | Topic | Presented at | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 - 2024 | Developing Chinese International Students' Intercultural Competence through Learning Activities | 8th Biennial Colloquium of the Languages & Cultures Network for Australian Universities (LCNAU) | University of Sydney | Australia |
| 2022 - 2022 | The Complexities and Challenges of Chinese Classrooms in Australia | 2022 CLTASA State Conference | Chinese Language Teachers Association South Australia | Australia |
| 2021 - 2021 | Maintaining the Bridge: Innovation in Education and Cultural Exchange | 2021 CLTASA State Conference | Chinese Language Teachers Association South Australia | Australia |
| 2019 - 2019 | Chinese Language Education in the Age of Globalisation and Diversity | The 2019 Conference on Chinese Language Education in the South Pacific | The University of the South Pacific, Suva | Fiji |
| 2016 - 2016 | Promoting understanding and exchange of Chinese culture and arts to the SA communities | AAPPAC Conference | Association of Asia Pacific Performing Arts Centres (AAPPAC), Adelaide Festival Centre | Australia |
| Date | Title | Type | Institution | Country |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 - 2007 | Education and Social Change in China: Inequality in a Market Economy | Journal Review | The China Journal | - |
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