On 04th of July 2023, hosted by the China International Chinese Education Foundation and undertaken by East China Normal University, the 2023 Seminar for Foreign Directors of the Confucius Institute in China was held in Shanghai. 27 foreign Co-directors of Confucius Institutes and heads of Confucius Classrooms from 25 countries will participate in the 9-day training in China. Dr. Jani Samarakoon, Co-Director of the Confucius Institute of the University of Kelaniya, represented Sri Lanka at the Training Program.
Mr. Zhao Lingshan, vice chairman and secretary-general of the foundation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He extended a warm welcome to all the deans who came to China for the first time after the epidemic and expressed his gratitude for the severe epidemic situation and the relatively difficult situation of sending Chinese personnel. All the foreign directors of the post expressed their sincere respect and best wishes. He introduced the development and changes of the Confucius Institute in the past three years since the establishment of the foundation, and raised three expectations for the foreign director to play an important role: First, to be a good "leader" of the Confucius Institute, to cooperate with the Chinese director and fully mobilize Cooperate with universities and superior resources in the region; second, be a good "promoter" for the local development of the Confucius Institute, expand the circle of friends of the Confucius Institute, and win the support of more universities and external partners; third, be a good "thinker" of the foundation, put forward the most valuable opinions and suggestions on the continuous promotion of the development of the Confucius Institute.
Ms. Zhang Junli, deputy secretary-general of the foundation, made a special report entitled "Inheritance and Development of the Confucius Institute". She systematically introduced the responsibilities and key projects of the foundation, the development process of the Confucius Institute, and promoted the better development of the Confucius Institute under the new mechanism and the foreign president made suggestions to play a better role.
The opening ceremony was presided over by Mr. Gu Hongliang, vice president of East China Normal University, and Mr. Qian Xuhong, the president of East China Normal University, attended and delivered a welcome speech. Through special lectures, themed discussions, field trips and cultural experiences, this training will allow foreign directors to have a deeper understanding of the charm of the Chinese language and cultural connotations, and intuitively feel and understand the achievements and development of China's economy, education, and science and technology. The current situation has further stimulated their sense of identity with the cause of the Confucius Institute, and helped the Confucius Institute to better promote cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries.
The first training program for foreign directors of the Confucius Institute in 2023 was successfully completed in Shanghai. During the 9-day training, the foundation arranged lectures by Chinese and foreign experts in the fields of Chinese philosophy, economy, culture, and media for the deans, organized a trip to Hyundai Company to understand the research and development of artificial intelligence products, visited the famous historical and cultural city of Suzhou, and experienced Chinese Health Qigong, Chinese Acupuncture and Tea Culture. During the training, the deans conducted in-depth discussions on topics such as the positioning and characteristic development of the Confucius Institute, and improving the teaching quality of the Confucius Institute.
At the closing ceremony, representatives of directors from Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Americas pointed out in their speeches that the training program for foreign directors in China provides a rare learning opportunity for everyone, and it is a way to increase understanding and mutual trust and to learn and exchange management experience of Confucius Institutes.
Mr. Zhang Junli, Deputy Secretary-General of the Foundation, concluded at the closing ceremony that the sustainable development and brand image building of the Confucius Institute requires the cooperation of Chinese and foreign directors, Chinese and foreign partner institutions, and the joint support of friendly people from all walks of life. Mentioned about work hand in hand to create a good ecology, and build the Confucius Institute, the "golden bridge" of cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries, stronger and wider.
This training program is the first training class for foreign directors in China since the establishment of the foundation. In the future, some foreign directors will be invited to study in China every year to help improve the operation and management level of the Confucius Institute.
