Qiaohui Xue, a PhD researcher in the Centre for International Education Research (CIER) in the School of Education at the 海角黑料, has recently reached two milestones in her doctoral work.
She has been awarded a scholarship from the Great Britain–China Educational Trust (GBCET). The award recognises academic achievement and supports educational exchange between the UK and China. The funding will support her ongoing doctoral research and enable participation in international academic activity.
Qiaohui has also been awarded a Student Bursary to present at the British Educational Research Association (BERA) Conference 2026. Her presentation, Promoting Chinese International Students’ Sense of Belonging Through Gender-sensitive Practices in UK Higher Education, examines how universities can support international students through more inclusive learning and social environments.
In addition, her abstract has been accepted for a paper presentation at the Gender and Education Association (GEA) Conference 2026, taking place in New Zealand in December. Her paper, Constructing Gender-Inclusive Higher Education Spaces in the UK: Spatial Imaginaries and the Negotiation of Gender-Inclusive Space among Chinese Postgraduate Students, explores gender-inclusive educational space as an ongoing process shaped through discourse, practice and experience. It also considers how internationalisation in higher education circulates ideas of ‘progressive’ gender space within global power relations.
These developments support the sharing of her research with international audiences and engagement with scholars in related fields. Qiaohui thanks her supervisors, colleagues and the School of Education for their continued support.
Posted on Wednesday 3rd June 2026