Dr Kelly Ngo
Lecturer in Ancient Chinese Literature
Background
Kelly’s research interests centre on classical Chinese texts for character education and leadership, including the literary tradition of mirror for princes from early Tang China.
Specialist Subjects
- Classical Chinese conduct literature, including mirrors for princes, children’s elementary textbooks, family instructions, and morality texts.
Professional and/or Research Experience
Kelly teaches Classical Chinese texts for a variety of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including the BA (Hons) in Sinology and the BA (Hons) in Sinology (Humanistic Education), as well as the MA in Confucian Classical Studies and the MA in Chinese Buddhist Textual Studies. She supervises the PhD dissertations related to Classical Chinese traditions and their texts for character education and leadership.
Qualifications
- PhD Cultural Studies, University of Wales Trinity Saint David (2022)
- Master of Arts Sinology, University of Wales Trinity Saint David (2018)
- Kelly’s postgraduate study was sponsored by full scholarships from the Chin Kung Multicultural Education Foundation (2017–2022)
- Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice, College of Law, Sydney, Australia (2005)
- Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours), University of Sydney, Australia (2004)
- Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance) (2002)
Languages Spoken
English, Classical Chinese, Mandarin Chinese, and Cantonese Chinese
Professional Membership or Roles
Association for Moral Education
European Association for Chinese Studies
Tang Studies Society
European Network of Scholars in Religions of China
British Academy Early Career Researcher Network
Learned Society of Wales Early Career Researcher Network
Global Alliance for Values-based Education
Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding
Sinology management board of the University
Academic Teaching
External Recognition or Rewards
Santes Dwynwen Kindness Award, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, 2026
Chin Kung Multicultural Education Foundation Scholarship, 2017–2022
International Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Rotary International, 2005
Rotary Youth Leadership Award, District 9750, 2003
Chin Kung Multicultural Education Foundation Scholarship, 2017–2022
International Rotary Youth Leadership Award, Rotary International, 2005
Rotary Youth Leadership Award, District 9750, 2003
Link to Orcid Profile
Professional Publications
- “Cultural Memory of Early Tang China in the Qunshu zhiyao: 群書治要 (Essentials for bringing about order from assembled texts)”, The Journal of the European Association for Chinese Studies 4 (2023): 199–222. Open Access. https://doi.org/10.25365/jeacs.2023.4.ngo
- Ordering Tang China: Cultural Memory, Emperor Taizong, and the Essentials. Ann Arbor: Lever Press, 2024. Open Access. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.14467609
- “Moral education in mirrors for princes: the Qunshu zhiyao and the Zhenguan zhengyao 君王借鏡的道德教育——以《群書治要》與《貞觀政要》為例” in Collected Papers of the Sixth International Academic Symposium on the Qunshu zhiyao 第二屆群書治要學術研討會論文集), ed. Huang Shengsong, pp. 239–260. Taipei: Wanjuanlou, 2025.
- Traditional Chinese Children’s Primers: A Sourcebook Ann Arbor: Lever Press, 2025. (Co-authored with Katherine Ngo.) Open Access. https://doi.org/10.3998/mpub.13081893.
- Collectanea of Ethical Exemplars: the Daode congshu by Chen Jingyi (3 volumes) (in production).
Additional Information
“Mastering the Everyday: The Art of Living from the Confucian Tradition” lecture series. Society for Anglo-Chinese Understanding. January 2025–April 2026. •Confucian Philosophy Masterclass for teachers of the Honours Programme at St David’s Sixth Form College, Cardiff. April 2023.
Sinology: Art of Living Seminars. Co-presented annual lectures. Academy of Sinology, University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Ongoing since 2022.
Sinology: Art of Living Seminars. Co-presented annual lectures. Academy of Sinology, University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Ongoing since 2022.
Available to Supervise Doctoral Students
Yes