Prof. Yan Bing Zhang’s Erasmus+ Teaching Mobility to Tallinn University
From 15 to 25 September 2025, the Baltic Film, Media and Arts School of Tallinn University had the pleasure of hosting Professor Yan Bing Zhang from the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, USA, as part of the Erasmus+ teacher exchange program.
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During her visit, Professor Zhang collaborated closely with Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication at Tallinn University, bringing together their complementary expertise in intercultural communication.
Professor Zhang’s research focuses on intergroup and intercultural relations, with particular attention to cognitive schemas, societal norms, media representations, and conflict management. Professor Zabrodskaja specializes in identity, language contacts, and linguistic landscapes. Together, they combined their strengths in quantitative and qualitative research methods, providing students with a rich and multifaceted learning experience that bridged theory and practice.
Throughout the visit, the professors contributed to master’s-level courses on research methods and academic thesis writing. Through their collaboration, master’s students in Communication Management were able to engage with diverse perspectives on intercultural dynamics, encompassing cognitive processes, identity formation, language practices, and organizational communication. The integration of Eastern European and East Asian viewpoints offered students a broader global understanding of intercultural issues and enriched their academic experience.
Beyond classroom teaching, the visit also fostered professional networking and the exchange of academic resources between Tallinn University and the University of Kansas. By bringing together two distinct research and teaching traditions, the collaboration enhanced methodological rigor, inspired innovative teaching practices, and underscored the practical relevance of intercultural communication in fields such as counseling, organizational management, and media analysis.
Professor Zabrodskaja also gained valuable insights from observing Professor Zhang’s teaching and mentorship. She was particularly inspired by Professor Zhang’s ability to integrate rigorous research with effective pedagogy — an approach recognized through numerous awards, including the 2007 William T. Kemper Fellowship for Teaching Excellence, the 2019 Dean’s Award for Excellence in Mentoring Students in Research, and the 2020 Howie Giles Mentorship Award from the International Association for Language and Social Psychology. These distinctions underscored for Professor Zabrodskaja the profound impact that thoughtful mentorship and innovative teaching can have on student development and academic excellence.
It was particularly valuable that it was possible to discuss the goals of updating the Communication Management curriculum with Professor Yan Bing Zhang.
Professor Zhang’s visit exemplified the goals of the Erasmus+ teacher exchange program, strengthening international collaboration and fostering cross-cultural academic dialogue. Tallinn University Baltic Film, Media and Arts School was delighted to host her and looks forward to continuing the exchange of knowledge, experience, and perspectives between its students and faculty and their international counterparts.
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For additional information, please reach out to Dr. Anastassia Zabrodskaja, Professor of Intercultural Communication, Head of the MA program in Communication Management, and Executive Director of the European Masters in Intercultural Communication, at anastassia.zabrodskaja@tlu.ee.
