The Confucius Institute at De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) has signed a partnership agreement with one of China's leading universities to continue to promote language and culture to students and academics.
The new formalised partnership with the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) is for five years in order to create more opportunities for co-operation between China and the UK.
The DMU/USTB Confucius Institute (DMU CI) is part of the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities and is based in the Vijay Patel Building on campus. For the last seven years it has brought a vibrant insight and a series of celebrations for students, staff and the wider community relating to Chinese language and culture.
DMU CI has been partnered with USTB since its inception, and this new partnership agreement reflects the closer relationship between the two universities that has ensued following a change in management arrangements for all Confucius Institutes globally.
The Institute runs a wide variety of courses, public events and activities including DMU's annual Chinese New Year celebrations, Mandarin classes for students and academics and cultural exchange programmes.
The new partnership aims to provide more opportunities for student exchanges, once Covid restrictions allow, as well as joint research ventures and the hosting of international symposiums at DMU.
Senior figures from USTB and DMU met online this month to acknowledge the new agreement.
DMU and USTB members met earlier this month
In his speech, USTB Vice-President Professor WU Aixiang promised to provide whatever support necessary to ensure the success of the Confucius Institute at DMU.
While Simon Bradbury, DMU's PVC International and /Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Design and Humanities recognised the work the CI had done and the way it had enhanced learning among students, academics and the community since it was opened in March 2014.
DMU CI teacher Melody Wei said: "This is great news for the university and for Leicester. DMU encourages the celebration of diversity not just on campus but within the local community and there is a great interest in Chinese language and culture.
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"We have so many students and staff who have enrolled on courses to learn Chinese and, as a teacher, I am thrilled to see so many people developing personally too.
"In the post-Brexit age I feel moved to have the support of the faculty and DMU to promote our events and courses."
To mark the Chinese New Year at DMU the CI has organised a free online lecture by Professor Mark Buck on Friday 29 January between 11am and 12pm called 'Understanding China'.
This lecture will attempt to identify the assumptions held by many in the West about Chinese society and government and compare them with assumptions held in China about Western society and government.
It will then address the question of to what extent there is a clash of civilizations and whether that can be overcome or accepted.
More details are here and it is free to attend. Register your place by visiting https://understandingchinalecture.eventbrite.co.uk
Find out more about DMU CI here
Posted on Tuesday 26 January 2021