Rate My Professor Yu Tao

Dr Yu Tao is an Associate Professor in Chinese Studies at the University of Western Australia (UWA), School of Social Sciences, where he coordinates the Chinese Studies course, including four streams of a major and two minors, since 2017. He served as Discipline Chair of Asian Studies from 2022 to 2023 and has been School Honours Coordinator since 2025. Previously, he was Senior Lecturer and Course Leader in Asia Pacific Studies at the University of Central Lancashire (2016-2017), Lecturer there (2014-2016), Tutor for undergraduate and international exchange students at the University of Oxford (2012-2014), and Tutor for undergraduate students at the University of Cambridge (2009-2010). Trained in political science and sociology, he holds a BA from Peking University, an MPhil from the University of Cambridge, and a DPhil from the University of Oxford.

Yu Tao's research focuses on Global China, exploring how China's government and governance systems adapt to globalization and the manifestations of globalised Chineseness in areas such as religion, education, migration, and heritage, with emphasis on interactions between religious groups, civic organisations, and local state agencies. His expertise covers local government issues, religion and politics, social capital, and Chinese heritage. He is the China regional editor of Asian Studies Review, Publications Officer and Executive of the Asian Studies Association of Australia, and Council Member of the Chinese Studies Association of Australia. Among his awards are the Australian Award for University Teaching Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning (2025), UWA Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024), and School of Social Sciences Excellence in Teaching Award (2023), along with numerous research grants including from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade New Colombo Plan and the National Foundation of Australia-China Relations. Key publications include 'Between Support and Stratification: How COVID-19 Relief Policies Impacted Inequality in China's Craft Porcelain Capital' (2025), 'Cross-border Human Mobility and Border Controls: Historical Insights from Early Chinese Migrant Networks in Western Australia' (2025), and a book review of 'The Ripple Effect: China’s Complex Presence in Southeast Asia' in The China Journal (2025). His contributions extend to media op-eds and align with UN Sustainable Development Goals on quality education, reduced inequalities, and strong institutions. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland, and Royal Asiatic Society.