Afaanwi Che began his academic career at Swansea University in the UK, where he earned his PhD in International Relations in 2015. His teaching and research interests have taken him to universities in various countries, including the USA, Nigeria, South Africa, and Uganda, where he served as Deputy Director of Postgraduate Studies at Kampala International University before joining XJTLU in March 2021.

Currently, his research focuses on China-Africa relations and pedagogical strategies aimed at overcoming misconceptions about Africa while promoting intercultural peace. In 2019, he received a grant and fellowship from the China-Africa Research Initiative at Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies.

Che regularly contributes to coding data for the Varieties of Democracy (V-Dem) Index, the world's largest democracy measurement project. His work has been published in various academic and journalistic outlets, including Peace and Conflict Studies, Third World Quarterly, Journal of Asian and African Studies, Journal of Political Science Education, and The Conversation.

He is open to PhD supervision and research collaboration in the fields of China-Africa relations, African politics, International Relations theory, and Peace and Conflict Studies.

China-Africa Relations

Peace and Conflict Studies

International Relations Theory

African Politics

Area interest: Africa

Political Science and Peace Education

Anti-misconception Education

Assistant Professor, International Studies, XJTLU, 2021-present

Global Engagement Officer, Department of International Studies, XJTLU, Sept 2024-present

HSS School Curriculum Review Panel member, XJTLU, Sept 2022-present

Acting Programmme Director, BA International Relations, XJTLU, Feb-Aug 2022 (Deputy Programme Director till June 2024)

International Studies staff representative to HSS UG Staff-Student Liaison Committee, XJTLU, Sept 2022-June 2024

Global Engagement Officer, Department of International Studies, XJTLU, Aug 2021-July 2022

Acting research officer, Department of International Studies, XJTLU, Nov 2021-May 2022

Senior Lecturer (IR), Kampala International University, Uganda, 2017-2020

Lecurer (IR), Kampala International University, Uganda, 2016-2017,

Deputy Director, Postgraduate Studies, Kampala International University, Uganda, 2016-2020

Lecturer (IR), Kwararafa University, Nigeria, 2015-2016

Postgraduate Tutor, Department of Political and Cultural Studies, Swansea University, UK, 2011-2015

International Politics of Development in Africa

International Political Economy

Managing the World: the Role of International Institutions

Economic Competition and Conflict

Globalization and Regional Integration

Africa in Contemporary International Security

International Law

Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS-CARI research grant & fellowship (2019) 

Teaching Assistantship, PCS, Swansea University (2011–2015)

Postgraduate Scholarship, Swansea University (MA 2007, Ph.D 2010-2014)