Joint Conference of Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) in Spain, Portugal and Andorra Held in Granada, Spain

On June 19th, 2018, local time, the Joint Conference of the Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) in Spain, Portugal, and Andorra was held at the Confucius Institute at the University of Granada (Universidad de Granada) of Spain, with the theme of enhancing the quality of education and promoting the sustainable development of the Confucius Institute". Dorothy Kelly, Vice President of University of Granada; Miquel Nicolau, President of University of Andorra (Universitat d'Andorra); Yu Tianqi, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters; Tian Gang, Vice President of Peking University; Zhong Xiwei, Director of the Education Section of the Chinese Embassy in Spain, together with more than 40 delegates from 21 Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) in Spain, Portugal and Andorra were present.

Dorothy Kelly hosted the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. She warmly congratulated on the convening of the conference on behalf of the University of Granada. She reviewed the development of the Confucius Institute in Granada in the past decade, and highly recognized of its outstanding achievement in regards to Chinese education and cultural events. She also appreciated the Confucius Institute Headquarters, Peking University and other Confucius Institutes for their support and wished the conference a great success.

Tian Gang pointed out in his speech that the Confucius Institute at Granada University has fostered its own brand in regards to Chinese textbooks, research, and translated works, and has won a good reputation in Granada and even in the entire region of Spain and Portugal. He emphasized that Peking University would always support the Confucius Institute to progress continuously.

Miquel Nicolau mentioned that, although Andorra is a geographically small nation, the University of Andorra and the local people have worked tirelessly for teaching Chinese and promoting Chinese culture. He started to learn Chinese two years ago, and Chinese could not be learnt in one day and there is still a long way to go. He hoped that the Confucius Classroom could become more promising under the great support of the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the Confucius Institute in Barcelona.

Zhong Xiwei noted that the number of Chinese learner in Spain now is over 50,000 and increases yearly. With the efforts of the Confucius Institutes and Classrooms, the number of candidates who participate in the HSK test has ranked first in Europe for five consecutive years. She wished that Confucius Institutes could continue to play its role as a bridge to actively contribute to promoting the sustainable and in-depth development of educational and cultural exchanges between China and Spain.

Joint Conference of the Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) in Spain, Portugal, and Andorra

Yu Tianqi reviewed the development of Confucius Institutes worldwide. She highly appreciated the outstanding achievements made by Confucius Institutes (Classrooms) in Spain, Portugal, and Andorra in regards to Chinese teaching and cultural events, as well as what the Confucius Institute has contributed to the cultural and educational exchanges between China and the Iberian Peninsula. She said that Confucius Institutes now faces “second adventure”, which calls for higher quality and efficiency. She introduced to delegates about the measures adopted by the Confucius Institute Headquarter recently on how to improve the quality of Chinese teaching globally in four aspects: constantly improve the faculty system of combining Chinese native and foreign teachers of both full-time and part-time; implement international project for Chinese textbooks; innovate Chinese pedagogy and promote Chinese into the national educational system. In addition, she also exchanged opinions on issues that concerned the delegates.

The delegates conducted in-depth discussion on how to improve the teaching quality of Confucius Institutes, promote intercommunications among Confucius Institutes (Classrooms), strengthen resource-sharing, promote the inclusion of Hanban into local teaching system, and strengthen the financial security and management of Confucius Institutes (Classrooms), etc. The delegates not only shared their successful experiences, but also actively discussed the existing problems and challenges.

Celebration marking the 10th Anniversary of the Confucius Institute at the University of Granada

Prior to the conference, the 10th anniversary celebration was held for the Confucius Institute at the University of Granada successfully. Pilar Aranda, President of University of Granada; Miguel Nicolas, President of the University of Andorra, Yu Tianqi, Deputy Chief Executive of the Confucius Institute Headquarters; Tian Gang, Vice President of Peking University; Liu Wenqiu, Counselor for Cultural Affairs at the Chinese Embassy in Spain and about 100 representatives from various Confucius Institutes attended the celebration, during which the photo exhibition of the Confucius Institute’s achievement as well as art performance by excellent students were presented to all delegates.