UA to Host Confucius Institute

Akron, Ohio, May 29, 2008 ― The University of Akron has been chosen by the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Education to host a Confucius Institute beginning in 2008 to promote the teaching of Chinese language and culture.

Currently there are 42 Confucius Institutes in the United States and UA's Confucius Institute is in partnership with Henan University in Kaifeng, Henan Province.

The Chinese government created Confucius Institutes in 2004 to enhance intercultural understanding worldwide.

“We are very pleased to be chosen as a site for a Confucius Institute, as the competition for these institutes is high,” says Dr. Luis M. Proenza, president of The University of Akron. “This important partnership with the People's Republic of China will broaden and add depth to The University of Akron's Chinese-language program, one of several critical languages we offer to better prepare our students and our community as global citizens.”

“UA's Confucius Institute will focus on Chinese-language instruction, both in-depth and ‘survival' language instruction, as well as offer cultural enrichment activities to our students and faculty, P-12 students and teachers, businesses and community members,” says Dr. Elizabeth Stroble, UA's senior vice president, provost and chief operating officer.

The Chinese Ministry of Education will support two faculty members from Henan University to teach Chinese at UA, as well as assist in cultural enrichment opportunities.

It also will provide 3,000 textbooks and reference books, significantly expanding the university's ability to offer Mandarin Chinese and promote the Chinese language and culture. UA began offering Mandarin Chinese to its students in 2006.

UA's Confucius Institute will have a governing board composed of university and community representatives.

UA faculty and administrators who have been involved in the planning for the institute are Dr. David Ayers, director of international programs; Holly Harris Bane, associate vice president for strategic initiatives and engagement; Dr. Chris Eustis, chair of the Department of Modern Languages; Dr. Douglas Hausknecht, interim chair of the Department of Marketing; Dr. Young Lin, associate professor of communication; Yongfang Zhang, instructor of modern languages; and Dr. Baomei Zhao, assistant professor of family and consumer sciences.

There are 190 Chinese students at UA, and the university has had a student exchange program with Henan for 10 years.

There are more than 120 Confucius Institutes in 50 countries and regions. UA's is the third in Ohio, joining Cleveland State University and Miami University.

“Confucius Institutes are warmly welcomed worldwide,” Ayers says. “They become recognized places for people to learn Chinese and understand Chinese culture.”

Programs available from the Confucius Institute include Chinese-language courses at different levels, professional training and teaching resources for Chinese-language teachers. It also conducts Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) Chinese-language-proficiency tests, and certifies teaching Chinese as a foreign language.

Since 2004, China has been building goodwill by funding the nonprofit Confucius Institutes worldwide. China's Ministry of Education predicts that by 2010, up to 200 institutes will help train 100 million people worldwide in Chinese while strengthening business ties and promoting faculty and student exchanges and the Chinese culture.

For more information about Confucius Institutes, visit http://www.hanban.org/en_hanban/index.php.

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