2018 In-Service Training Workshop for Confucius Institute Directors Held in Hangzhou

On July 2nd, the 2018 In-Service Training Workshop for Confucius Institute Directors held its opening ceremony in Hangzhou. The workshop was co-organized by the Confucius Institute Headquarter (Hanban) and Zhejiang Normal University. A total of 28 foreign directors of Confucius Institutes from 15 countries attended the workshop. Jing Wei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Director-General of Hanban; Bao Xuejun, Deputy Secretary of Zhejiang Provincial Working Committee for Education and Deputy Director-General of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education; and Zheng Mengzhuang, President of Zhejiang Normal University (ZNU) attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches. Geoffrey, Dean of University of Dubai spoke on behalf of all foreign directors who participated in the workshop.

Zheng Mengzhuang welcomed all directors and indicated that ZNU will do its best to secure the success of the workshop, and will continue to function as Africa research center for Confucius Institutes and provincial training center for candidates of teachers at Confucius Institutes in Zhejiang to support other institutions in Zhejiang and overseas Confucius Institutes.

Zheng Mengzhuang, President of Zhejiang Normal University

Bao Xuejun introduced the general situation of education in Zhejiang province, and current status of Confucius Institutes and some major measures of developing Confucius Institutes. He said that the workshop would not only helps China and foreign countries to learn from each other, but also boosts Confucius Institutes to progress with higher level and quality.

Bao Xuejun, Deputy Director-General of Zhejiang Provincial Department of Education

Dean Geoffrey introduced Confucius institute at University of Dubai based onhis workexperience. He believed that the Confucius institutes arethe bridgesfor connection cultural and educational exchanges between China and foreign countries and a consequence of bilateral cooperation. Only by mutuallearning and joint efforts can we further promote Confucius institutes.

Geoffrey, Academic Dean of University of Dubai

In her speech, Jing Wei first introduced the objectives and features of the workshop. Then she focused on four key words: cooperation, mutual benefit, openness and adjustment to local conditions. She emphasized that the Confucius Institute is always on the basis of cooperation, and the running of the Institute is open and transparent, and takes diverse demands of the locals into consideration, in order to benefit local communities and residents, as well as to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign higher institutions.

Jing Wei, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and Director-General of Hanban

Considering the opportunities and challenges faced by the Confucius Institute at current stage, she put forward three expectations: first, improve the overall quality of Confucius Institutes by strengthening smart classroom via the use of technology, and perfecting teachers, teaching materials and teaching standards as well as cultivating more specialized and professional talents. Second, engage more cooperation and communications between all parties and strengthen legal supports and establish good public relations to promote deeper integration of Confucius Institutes with host universities or districts. Third, raise funds through multiple channels, and carry out performance evaluation to boost unique Confucius Institutes, and then comprehensively improve the efficiency in school management.

Opening ceremony

The workshop last for 9 days, upon directors’ particular interests, a group of reputable experts and scholars all over the worldare invited to hold themed lectures on China’s educational advancement, economic progress, exchanges between China and foreign countries, and Chinese traditional culture, and themed discussions such as “the functionality of the Confucius Institute and its cooperation with China and foreign counterparts” and “how to improve the Confucius Institute’s connotational significance and its quality and efficiency”. The directors will visit the Confucius Temple in Quzhou and Alibaba Group to experience the long history and culture of China, as well as its achievement as a contemporary nation.