The Faculty of Communication Sciences receives the institutional visit of Professor Yupei Zhao
The professor and vice-dean at Zhejiang University gave the conference “Digital Culture and Lifestyle Transformation” in front of professors, researchers and PhD students at the UAB, in a visit aimed at strengthening international academic and research relations.
The Faculty of Communication Sciences of the UAB received, from May 18 to 23, 2026, the institutional visit of Professor Yupei Zhao, professor and vice-dean of the College of Media and International Culture of Zhejiang University (Hangzhou, China), one of the most prestigious universities in the Asian country.
Professor Yupei Zhao holds a PhD in Communication from the University of Leicester (UK) and is a specialist in e-sports, emerging technologies (VR, AR and MR) and their application scenarios. Throughout her career she has been “Chair of the International Communication Association Popular Media and Culture” and an expert and member of the UNESCO Committee on Information for All Program. She has led more than 40 funded research projects and is the author of 35 academic papers and articles from journals such as Information Communication and Society, International Journal of Communication, Journal of Cultural Economy. He has also published five monographs and four teaching books.
The visit included various academic and institutional activities aimed at fostering new ways of collaboration between both institutions. On Tuesday, May 19, Professor Zhao was received by the dean of the Faculty, Juan José Perona, and by the vice-dean of Students, Mobility and International Projection, Ileana Zeler. During her stay, she also held research meetings with researchers from the Institute of Communication (InCom-UAB), as well as meetings related to future academic exchanges and international cooperation projects.
The central event of the visit took place on Wednesday, May 20, with the conference “Digital Culture and Lifestyle Transformation”, held in the Faculty’s Sala de Graus. The session, aimed at teachers, researchers and PhD students, addressed social and cultural transformations linked to emerging digital technologies and generated a space for interdisciplinary debate on communication, digital culture and technological innovation.
The conference was also attended by Professor Manuel Castells, doctor honoris causa by the UAB in recognition of his outstanding academic and research career in the field of social sciences and communication. The visit was completed on Thursday 21 May with a research meeting at the UAB Sports Research Institute (IRE-UAB).