Database Archive on Cultural Statistics for Culture and Innovation in
Humanities and Social Science

In line with the aim to promote digitisation as a methodology in research on Greater China, the Centre for Greater China Studies (CGCS) constructed a database archive to facilitate research related to culture and innovation in humanities and social science.

As cultural data and statistics have been the main focus of international data archives such as the UNESCO Institute of Statistics (UIS) which is based in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, the archive was benefited immensely with advice from experts from the organisation.

The database archive aims to collect data on cultural statistics, namely variety of cultural goods, services and practices, in order to assist research and activities in culture and innovation in humanities and social science in the Greater China context regarding four major themes of (1) the Belt and Road Initiative; (2) Transnational China; (3) Culture and Innovation; and (4) Digitising China. Reference was made to the UNESCO Framework of Cultural Statistics (FCS) and other recent work conducted by the UIS in organising the databases for CGCS for measuring both the economic and social dimensions of culture. The archive provides valuable data to facilitate research in various disciplines in humanities and social science including cultural studies, cultural industries development, sociology, history as well as philosophy.

Introduction of the Centre for Greater China Studies

The Centre for Greater China Studies (CGCS) aims to enhance interdisciplinary research that highlights the rise of China and its impact on the rest of the world. The CGCS has two major objectives. First, it serves as a research platform to formulate and promote Greater China studies at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK). Its second objective is to facilitate academic exchange and cooperation between local and international scholars.

The CGCS focuses on four key areas:

1. To facilitate research on the Belt and Road Initiative and the Greater Bay Area Development;
2. To encourage research on interactions between China and the rest of the world and accompanying problems that may occur;
3. To promote digital research methods and apply related knowledge to the field of Greater China studies; and
4. To set up a “Greater China Network” website which would be used to engage in various types of academic activities and online publication.

Introduction of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics

Established in 1999, The UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS) was relocated to Montréal, Québec, Canada in 2001.

UIS provides following services:

1. To develop, produce and analyze cross-nationally comparable data in UNESCO’s fields of competence so that countries can benchmark their progress towards their development goals;
2. To develop innovative methodologies and international standards that meet the changing policy needs of countries;
3. To serve as the neutral broker and trusted source of support and guidance for countries looking to improve the measurement of critical issues;
4. To provide a range of technical services and tools to countries to produce and use high-quality data for effective policymaking; and
5. To advocate for the production and use of data as a public good to spotlight issues and regions needing greater support from the international community.

Remarks

The CGCS database is fully supported by a grant from the RGC of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No.: UGC/IDS14/17). Data are provided by UNESCO Institute for Statistics.