Dates
Thursday June 18th to Monday June 22nd, 2026
Location
Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
Background
Sport and exercise science has emerged as a key interdisciplinary field underpinning health
promotion, disease prevention, athletic performance, and population wellbeing. Both Australia
and China have made substantial advances in research, education, and infrastructure in sport,
exercise, and health sciences, with universities in both countries developing complementary
strengths across these domains.
In recent years, Australian and Chinese universities have shown growing interest in deepening
academic engagement through joint research, staff exchange, student mobility, and
collaborative training programs. Strengthening institutional networks is particularly timely in
the context of shared challenges, including ageing populations, the rising burden of chronic
disease, physical inactivity, and the increasing need for evidence-based sport and exercise
interventions.
The ACTIVE (Australia–China Collaborative Training Initiative in Exercise) program,
supported by the National Foundation for Australia–China Relations (Australia) and led by
Victoria University, initially brought together eight Australian universities and eight Chinese
universities. The program has facilitated the exchange of academic staff and students between
Australia and China in the field of sport and exercise science. Building on the success of the
initial online symposium in 2024, the second symposium will be held in a face-to-face format,
with the aim of fostering deeper engagement and expanding collaborative networks.
Purpose
The purpose of the Australia–China University Academic Symposium on Sport and
Exercise is to:
- Facilitate academic networking and relationship building between Australian and Chinese universities
- Showcase current research strengths, facilities, and educational programs in sport and exercise science
- Identify opportunities for collaborative research projects, future joint funding initiatives, and co-supervision of postgraduate students
- Promote staff and student exchange, visiting scholar programs, and joint training initiatives
- Foster long-term, sustainable partnerships that contribute to innovation, health, and wellbeing outcomes in both countries
To support these initiatives and the event’s administrative costs, a registration fee of AUD 450 is required for all participants. This fee grants full access to all symposium sessions.
Through dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic discussion, the symposium aims to lay
a strong foundation for future Australia–China collaboration in sport and exercise research and
education.
Program
Day 1 (Thursday), Arrival and Registration, Academic Symposium 1, and Welcome
Reception:
Faculty, researchers, and students from Australian and Chinese universities will
discuss topics in sport and exercise science, share the latest research and practical insights, and
promote cross-institutional collaboration.
Day 2 (Friday), Full Day Symposium
- Opening Ceremony: The official opening will introduce the conference background,
history of collaboration, and key agenda items, while providing an opportunity for
participants to connect and engage. - Keynote Presentations: Leading scholars from Australia and China will deliver keynote lectures on cutting-edge research, disciplinary trends, and international collaboration experiences.
- Student representatives from Australian and Chinese universities will present the outcomes from joint research or academic projects, share learning experiences, and strengthen future student-led collaboration.
Day 3 (Saturday), Academic Symposium 2
- Topic-specific Discussions: Participants will engage in focused discussions on
research methods, emerging technologies, and practical applications in sport and
exercise science, - Discipline-Specific Workshops: Targeted workshops and case-based sessions will provide theoretical instruction, practical analysis, and methodological guidance in key disciplines.
Day 4 (Sunday), On-site Field Study of Australian Sports Culture:
Day 5 (Monday), Departure
Outcome
Explore the establishment of an “Australia-China Sport and Exercise Science University
Network”