Edited by Chi Zhang, Yiwei Zhang (Class of 2026) and Xinyi Liu (Class of 2025)
Ellen (Yutong) Shi is a driven junior at Duke Kunshan University with a passion for exploring the human world. Majoring in Culture and Movement with a track in Cultural Anthropology, Ellen has taken on the role of research assistant for a CSCC student research project titled “Business Transitions and Growth during the Pandemics: The Case of China’s digital Economic Booms under SARS and Covid-19”, collaborating closely with Professor Zhaojin Zeng. Through their joint efforts, they aim to look into the implications of digitalization and data governance on China’s government agencies. Recently, Yutong attended the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies, where she impressed as the only undergraduate student in attendance.
Hi Ellen, thank you so much for agreeing to be interviewed and for sharing your work with us. Firstly, can you tell us a little about yourself and the research project you’ve been working on?
Hello, my name is Yutong Shi, and I am a junior majoring in Culture and Movement with a focus on Cultural Anthropology. My research is centered around data governance in China over the past two decades and its impact on governmental agencies. This study presents the first systematic analysis of the Big Data Bureau, which is the primary administrative unit of China’s data governance institutions and digital regulatory infrastructure. We analyze the evolution of the central government’s perception of the digital economy and its policy initiatives. Through various case studies at the provincial, municipal, and county levels, we examine the formation and expansion of the Big Data Bureau across China, investigating the differences and similarities in their organizational structures, major functions and tasks, and interactions with other traditional governmental agencies. I am collaborating with Professor Zeng on this project, and as a research assistant, I am responsible for conducting a comprehensive literature review. Professor Zeng and I work together to generate new ideas and research directions, engaging in inspiring discussions to bring the project closer to our shared interests.
The case study of Jiangsu Province and the regional variance of Qinghai Province seems to be an interesting part of your research program. Why did you choose these two places? Have you met any difficulties in data collection?
Thank you for your interest. Being located in Jiangsu Province, DKU has the potential to establish stronger connections with local agencies. Jiangsu Province is at the forefront of the digitalization and transformation of governance at the national level. Given China’s unique geographical and political features, I would like to focus on underrepresented regions as well. Qinghai Province, known for its abundant natural resources and its significant role in mega projects related to energy transportation, will serve as a case study to contrast a tech-focused and industrialized province with an underdeveloped yet promising one. Because data governance in China is a relatively new field, we have made great efforts to collect data and solid cases to support our arguments and findings. However, sometimes the data available on government websites is not up to date, which makes it difficult for us to make comparisons between provinces.
Prof. Zeng proudly told us earlier that you presented the research at an international conference in the US last year. How was the experience? Could you tell us more about the conference, and how did you obtain this opportunity?
Attending the annual meeting of the Mid-Atlantic Region of the Association for Asian Studies, held at the University of Pennsylvania, was a challenging experience for me. With mid-term exams at Duke and several papers to write, the trip to Philadelphia was quite demanding. Nevertheless, I was grateful to have been invited by Professor Zeng and excited about the opportunity. Our presentation was titled Governing Data in Contemporary China: Laws, Digital Capacity, and the Formation of New Governmental Agencies. During the presentation, we explained how new data laws combined with the Big Data Bureau and other new governmental agencies have led to a multi-level data governance infrastructure, which enhances the state’s digital capacity and enables it to effectively confront new social and economic challenges in the digital economy. Despite being the only undergraduate student in attendance, I had the chance to participate in various seminars and communicate directly with scholars about their research. These experiences have motivated me to deepen my understanding of academic research and to think more critically about the implications of our project’s results.
We assume that the presentation at an international conference can be regarded as one of the highlights from the project. We are curious to know what you have learned from the experience?
I believe that the most significant takeaway from that experience is the importance of being well-prepared for upcoming opportunities. While attending the conference, I gained invaluable insights from the thoroughly researched works of other professors who were well-versed in their respective fields. As a newcomer to the topic I’ve chosen, I realized that there are many areas where I need to improve, but the experience has motivated me to work harder towards gaining a deeper understanding of the subject matter
What advice do you have for other undergraduate students interested in pursuing research projects in their field?
Sharing ideas requires courage, as it involves engaging with your audience as equals and learning from one another. This process is enjoyable and allows for mutual learning. To fully explore novel ideas, it is crucial to have the courage and curiosity to learn new things. Engaging in open discussions and brainstorming sessions with your professor and classmates can help you deepen your understanding of the topic. You may encounter difficulties in finding reliable academic resources in Chinese and English, but talking with librarians, professors, and other classmates who are interested in the topic can be helpful for brainstorming, proofreading, and reflection.
