The first training workshop for foreign directors of Confucius Institutes (CI) held by the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF) recently concluded in Shanghai.

During the 9-day workshop, CIEF invited Chinese and foreign experts to give lectures on Chinese philosophy, economy, culture, media, and other fields for the CI directors. They also traveled to iFLYTEK to gain an appreciation for the company’s research and development in AI products; toured the historical and cultural city of Suzhou; and experienced China’s health-preserving exercise Qigong, acupuncture in traditional Chinese medicine, and tea culture. At the workshop, the directors conducted in-depth discussions around the positioning and development of CI, improvement of teaching quality at CI, and other topics.

Lecture by Richard Sears (Uncle Chinese Characters): “Stories of Chinese Characters and Me”

Visit to iFLYTEK

Tour of Suzhou Museum

Symposium

The CI directors praised the workshop for directly unveiling China’s achievements in its economy, culture, and technology; shedding light on CI’s development trends and brand management mechanisms; and further enhancing the directors’ determination and confidence in CI’s successful operation. At the completion ceremony, CI directors from Asia, Africa, Europe, and America pointed out in their speeches that the workshop provided precious learning opportunities as a first-rate platform for deepening understanding and mutual trust, drawing on CI’s wealth of management experience. They emphasized that every CI director could serve as a bridge and contribute to CI’s development, cultural exchanges, and mutual learning between Chinese and other global civilizations. The directors expressed their desire for more future opportunities for communication and cooperation between CIs and with CIEF.

Zhang Junli, deputy secretary-general of CIEF, stressed that CI’s sustainable development and brand building entail the teamwork of Chinese and foreign directors and partner institutions, as well as the friendly support of all sectors of society. She called for joint efforts to create an optimum ecology for solidifying and widening the “golden bridge” of CI for people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries.

Completion Ceremony

The workshop is the first of its type in China for foreign CI directors since the establishment of CIEF. In the future, a number of foreign CI directors will be invited to China every year for training and study so as to continuously promote CI’s operation and management capacities.