On Dec.11, taking advantage of the 12th Confucius Institute Conference, the 9th Xiamen University Confucius Institute Partnership Workshop was held in Xi’an, Shanxi Province. A total of 43 people, including presidents of the host universities of 16 XMU co-built Confucius Institutes (CIs), CI board representatives and CI Directors, attended this workshop. They conducted in-depth discussions on “How to Promote Exchange and Share Experience to Further Improve CIs’ Schooling Quality and Standard” and other issues. Zhan Yan, Secretary of the CPC Xiamen University Committee; Zhan Xinli, Vice President of Xiamen University; Mao Tongwen, Director of the Southern Base of Confucius Institute Headquarters and Office of Confucius Institute Affairs; Fan Li, Secretary of CPC Branch of the Southern Base; Ren Genghu, Vice Director of the Southern Base; and Zhang Shengqiang, Deputy Director of International Office of XMU attended this workshop.

Representatives of the 9th Xiamen University Confucius Institute Partnership Workshop

 In this workshop, representatives from CIs in Asia, America and Oceania, and representatives from CIs in Africa and Europe were divided into two groups to carried out the in-depth discussions on the above two topics. Nancy Ann Marlin, honorary Provost of San Diego State University, and Carmen J. Sammut, Vice Chancellor of University of Malta, respectively, made concluding remarks on behalf of the two groups. During the seminar, all CIs fully communicated and demonstrated their achievements in school running and experiences in joint building, and exchanged ideas and opinions on the construction and management of CI, which provided favorable intellectual support for CIs’ further development of connotation and improvement of quality.

Mr. Zhang Yan and Madam. Zhan Xinli Present the Awards to Award-winning CI and individuals

 The award ceremony for “XMU Confucius Institute of the Year” and “XMU Confucius Institute Individual Performance Excellence Award” was also held in this workshop. Mr. Zhang Yan and Madam. Zhan Xinli award winning units and individuals. In his speech, Mr. Zhang Yan affirmed the achievements made by the 16 Confucius Institutes and 47 Confucius Classrooms in 2017 and thanked all for their long-term support for the CIs. He said, Xiamen University attaches great importance to the work of CI and actively promotes the in-depth development of Sino-foreign cultural exchanges. With the joint efforts of all parties, the Confucius Institute has developed into an important platform for friendly cooperation and cultural exchanges between schools and schools, cities and cities. In the future, Xiamen University will, as always, work with foreign partners to strengthen the construction of CIs and make contributions to mutual communication and learning of civilization and the building of a community of shared future for mankind.

This year, the award of “XMU Confucius Institute of the Year” goes to Confucius Institute at Mae Fah Luang University and San Diego State University. The “XMU Confucius Institute Individual Performance Excellence Award” goes to President of Saint Mary's University Robert Summerby-Murray, Chairman of the Council of Confucius Institute at Victoria University of Wellington Tony Browne, Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at Middle East Technical University Du Yun and Chinese Director of Confucius Institute at University of Stellenbosch Jian Fuai.

During the workshop and the subsequent Global Confucius Institute Conference, our school also held the Annual Council of the Confucius Institute together with representatives from four host university of XMU co-built CIs, University of Delaware, St. Mary's University, University of Trier and University of Stellenbosch. The two sides had fruitful discussions on the sustainable development strategy of the CI, the services for the construction of the Belt and Road, the promotion of communication and understanding between Chinese and foreign people, the deepening of the Sino-foreign cooperative relations and the improvement of the quality and level of schooling.

Source: http://ocia.xmu.edu.cn/en/news/jidiyaowen/2018-03-02/130.html