IICS Hosts A Public Lecture on “The New Multilateralism” by UCL Professor D’Maris Coffman
On October 16, 2025, the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies (IICS) at UCD hosted a public lecture titled “The New Multilateralism: Multilateral Governance and Regional Development after the SDGs.” The guest speaker was Professor D’Maris D. Coffman, Vice Dean and Professor of Economics and Finance at The Bartlett, University College London. The lecture was delivered in a hybrid format, with over 120 participants attending the event.
Before the lecture, Professor Liming Wang, Director of IICS, delivered a welcome speech and introduced the guest speaker.
Professor Coffman then presented an engaging keynote on the transition from “doctrinal multilateralism” to “functional multilateralism”, explaining how global governance is evolving in response to the pandemic, geopolitical fragmentation, and climate challenges. She argued that future cooperation will depend on resilient, networked, and regionally focused partnerships.
“We need cooperation that is resilient, not uniform; agile, not doctrinal,” said Professor Coffman.
Professor Coffman illustrated her points with regional case studies from Africa, Asia, and the Indo-Pacific, highlighting the importance of partnerships between governments, markets, and knowledge institutions. She emphasized that universities play a crucial role as “connective tissue”, i.e. convenors, translators, and facilitators of interdisciplinary cooperation.
The lecture concluded with a lively Q&A session, during which faculty and students discussed the implications of the “new multilateralism” for global education and research collaboration. The event provided valuable insights into current trends in global governance and offered participants an opportunity for academic exchange.
After the lecture, Professor Liming Wang and Professor Shi Zheng, Chinese Co-Director of the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, jointly presented a certificate and a gift to Professor Coffman in appreciation of her contribution.
都柏林大学爱尔兰中国研究院举办“新多边主义”公共讲座
2025年10月16日，都柏林大学爱尔兰中国研究院举办题为《新多边主义：可持续发展目标后的多边治理与区域发展》的专题讲座。主讲嘉宾为伦敦大学学院巴特莱特学院副院长、经济与金融学教授达玛丽丝·科夫曼（D’Maris D. Coffman）教授。讲座在都柏林大学孔子学院大楼004号报告厅举行，采用线上线下相结合的形式,一百二十多位师生出席了讲座。
本次讲座是第59期孔子博士论坛系列活动之一，并由都柏林大学中国学生学者联谊会（UCD CSSA）协办。
讲座开始前，都柏林大学中国研究院院长王黎明教授致欢迎辞并介绍了演讲嘉宾。
科夫曼教授围绕“从原则性多边主义到功能性多边主义”的主题展开演讲，分析了疫情、地缘政治碎片化和气候变化对国际治理格局的影响，指出未来的合作将更加灵活、网络化，并以区域为中心。
“We need cooperation that is resilient, not uniform; agile, not doctrinal.” Professor D’Maris D. Coffman.
科夫曼教授结合非洲、亚洲与印太地区的案例，探讨了政府、市场与学术机构之间的新型合作关系，并强调大学在跨领域对话与全球问题解决中发挥“连接组织”的关键作用。
讲座最后设有问答环节，现场气氛热烈。师生们就“新多边主义”与全球教育、科研合作的未来展开交流。本次讲座为师生提供了了解全球治理新趋势的机会，并促进了学术交流。
讲座结束后，王黎明院长与都柏林大学孔子学院中方院长郑适教授共同为嘉宾颁发证书与纪念礼品，以感谢其精彩演讲。