On the afternoon of November 26, 2025, Professor Wang Shunyu from Xi’an International Studies University, also from Xijing University was invited to the Northwest University Distinguished Lecture. He delivered a special lecture titled “Constructing an Independent Knowledge System for Humanities and Social Sciences: Concepts, Techniques, and Applications” for faculty and students. The lecture was hosted by Su Rui, Vice Dean of the Northwest University School of Foreign Languages. Numerous faculty and students from the university attended.
Professor Wang Shunyu began with the related concepts of an “independent knowledge system” in humanities and social sciences and the current state of domestic research. He systematically reviewed the theoretical progress and practical challenges in this field in China. Building on this, he further explored the supporting theories and key technologies needed for knowledge system construction. He highlighted the application pathways of computational methods, such as text mining, in knowledge structure analysis. In the empirical research section, Professor Wang utilized multiple text data sources. These included domestic newspapers, academic papers related to China’s “independent knowledge system,” abstracts of papers on “International Chinese Education” (1949-2014), abstracts of papers from American Journal of Sociology (1921-2016), and the full texts of over a thousand papers on domestic discourse studies published between 2015 and 2024. By applying text mining techniques, he conducted an in-depth analysis of their inherent knowledge structures and developmental trends. This revealed the pathways and characteristics of knowledge production across different periods and contexts.
During the interactive session, Professor Wang Shunyu engaged in in-depth discussions with the attending faculty and students on topics such as “the potential and boundaries of text mining in humanities and social sciences research” and “the future direction of digital humanities and disciplinary integration.” Professor Wang provided detailed responses to the questions raised by faculty and students. Drawing on his extensive experience in language data mining and quantitative research, he offered practical suggestions. This lecture not only enhanced the faculty and students’ theoretical understanding of constructing an independent knowledge system but also clarified methodological pathways for humanities and social sciences research driven by digital technologies. It provided valuable inspiration for advancing interdisciplinary integration and academic innovation.
Speaker: Professor Wang Shunyu
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