What China Taught me about my country and its culture
2025-09-17 19:00 - 20:00 UTC
Huge’s latest book is on a subject that matters to every thinking Briton: WHO ARE WE, and how will we survive in the Age of Asia?

“I first went to China in the 1970s when even a youngster such as I could see that both China and the UK were in dire straits. In the subsequent 15 years, remarkable leaders of both countries arose to tackle what they saw as the disintegration of their societies. Although both countries changed, thanks to their guidance, it has become apparent that China has been much more successful in escaping from those straits. Our two countries are very different, in size as in history, but is there anything the British could learn from China’s experience, that would help us rejuvenate?” – Professor Hugo de Burgh.

Sort biography of Hugo de Burgh

Hugo ‘Huge’ de Burgh has just published WHO ARE WE, and how will we survive in the Age of Asia? (CamRivers 2024), which looks at the UK in the light of his experiences of Chinese people. He was first in China in 1972 as a young gofer on the British Industrial Technology Exhibition. From being a community development worker and then broadcast journalist in Scotland, he went on to teach journalism in Nottingham, in London and in China, along the way publishing books such as China’s Media in the Emerging World Order (Legend 2021). In 2017 he founded Europe’s only bilingual English-Chinese school, Kensington Wade, in London. He has just completed a fourth term at Tsinghua University, as Walt Disney Professor of Media in Schwarzman,the US college of International Relations.

Reserve you free place on Eventbrite here

SACU's 60th Anniversary Celebration
2025-09-20 10:00 - 17:00 | King’s College London, Strand Campus, Strand, London, WC2R 2LS, United Kingdom
Join us for our Celebration Day on 20th September when we will commemorate both SACU’s 60th Anniversary and George Hogg’s 110th Anniversary.
Speakers include:

Professor Michael Wood, SACU President
Professor Kerry Brown, LAU China Institute KCL
Mark Aylwin Thomas, author of George Hogg’s biography
Professor Sun Hua, Peking University and co-sponsor of the SACU/PKU Essay-Art Competition.

We are also honoured to have a Senior Representative from the Chinese Embassy. The President of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Deputy Director of FAO Gansu Provincial Government will attend with delegations from China.

友 Speeches
友 Essay-Art Competition Awards to School Students
友 Musical piece especially composed for SACU at 60 by Dr Ben Lunn (SACU)
友 Panel discussion
友 CGTN 30 minute documentary Witness to War – the story of George Hogg – will be screened.
Sponsorship
We are delighted that the LAU China Institute of King’s Collage London has provided us with the Safra Lecture Theatre and Great Hall in the KCL main building on the Strand, London. The Chinese Embassy are kindly sponsoring lunch and Peking University are sponsoring the printing and materials. SACU is extremely grateful for this level of sponsorship which will enable us to have a splendid day marking both these important events.
Tickets are free but registration is required. Please book here on Eventbrite.
Everyone is welcome at what is set to be a really interesting and enjoyable day! Refreshments and lunch are included.
Full Programme here
George Hogg in China. Copyright St George’s School, Harpenden

How to work together: A Confucian guide to workplace relations
2025-10-16 19:00 - 20:00
We may spend more time during the day and most days of the week with colleagues than family members, which makes work relations vital to realising the good life. In early Confucian thought, the shared goal of mutual personal growth for both leader and subordinate was to ensure a thriving community. We bring to light how the seemingly hierarchical work setting accommodated a dynamic nature to the relationship – drawing on Confucius and other exemplars who creatively engaged with others even in difficult situations.

Confucius lived over 2000 years ago, yet his influence remains very strong in China. During the Han dynasty, ‘Confucianism’ was adopted as the underlying ideology for imperial rule and family order. Throughout China’s history, Confucianism has been challenged, reinterpreted, and appropriated. From the 20th century, after a period of disfavour, politicians and educationalists in China are once again turning to Confucianism for guidance.
In order to understand what Confucianism is, SACU is pleased that experts Dr Katherine Ngo and Dr Kelly Ngo, from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will be running a series of seminars for us in 2025, our 60th year.

Dr Katherine Ngo

Dr Kelly Ngo

This is Lecture 7 in Series 3 ‘In the world of work and study’.
Each lecture will be approximately 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes for discussion. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions using the Zoom chat function so that the speakers can respond to as many points as possible.
Registration on Eventbrite is required here
Just before each seminar, a Zoom meeting link will be sent to those that have registered via Eventbrite.
This seminar series is free and open to all. We invite attendees to join SACU here

How to lead: A Confucian guide to wise leadership
2025-11-20 19:00 - 20:00
Leadership has never been easy – even over two thousand years ago in ancient China. Confucius and those who followed in his footsteps travelled to various states to offer ideas on better leadership for all levels of government. They argued that wise leadership is not a skill developed in isolation, but rather the culmination of an embodied virtuosity in interactions. For example, the exemplary Shun developed within a dysfunctional family, influencing his closest family members as well as his community and state.

Confucius lived over 2000 years ago, yet his influence remains very strong in China. During the Han dynasty, ‘Confucianism’ was adopted as the underlying ideology for imperial rule and family order. Throughout China’s history, Confucianism has been challenged, reinterpreted, and appropriated. From the 20th century, after a period of disfavour, politicians and educationalists in China are once again turning to Confucianism for guidance.
In order to understand what Confucianism is, SACU is pleased that experts Dr Katherine Ngo and Dr Kelly Ngo, from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will be running a series of seminars for us in 2025, our 60th year.

Dr Katherine Ngo

Dr Kelly Ngo

This is Lecture 8 in Series 3 ‘In the world of work and study’.
Each lecture will be approximately 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes for discussion. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions using the Zoom chat function so that the speakers can respond to as many points as possible.
Registration on Eventbrite is required here
Just before each seminar, a Zoom meeting link will be sent to those that have registered via Eventbrite.
This seminar series is free and open to all. We invite attendees to join SACU here

How to learn: A Confucian guide to studying
2025-12-18 19:00 - 20:00
In the very first line of the Analects, Confucius states: “Learning and constant practice – is it not enjoyable?” Many are engaged in different forms of learning through school or work but may not necessarily find the process enjoyable. This presentation analyses the learning, practice, and time element in Confucius’ famous quote to glean lessons for learners today.

Confucius lived over 2000 years ago, yet his influence remains very strong in China. During the Han dynasty, ‘Confucianism’ was adopted as the underlying ideology for imperial rule and family order. Throughout China’s history, Confucianism has been challenged, reinterpreted, and appropriated. From the 20th century, after a period of disfavour, politicians and educationalists in China are once again turning to Confucianism for guidance.
In order to understand what Confucianism is, SACU is pleased that experts Dr Katherine Ngo and Dr Kelly Ngo, from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David, will be running a series of seminars for us in 2025, our 60th year.

Dr Kelly Ngo

Dr Katherine Ngo

This is Lecture 9 in Series 3 ‘In the world of work and study’.
Each lecture will be approximately 45 minutes followed by 15 minutes for discussion. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions using the Zoom chat function so that the speakers can respond to as many points as possible.
Registration on Eventbrite is required here
Just before each seminar, a Zoom meeting link will be sent to those that have registered via Eventbrite.
This seminar series is free and open to all. We invite attendees to join SACU here
