www.glasgow.ac.uk/confuciusinstitute

The Confucius Institute atthe University of GlasgowA Bridge to China

Annual ReportJanuary-December 2012

Professor Jane Duckett, DirectorProfessor Lichang Su, Co-DirectorDuo Long, Manager

The Confucius Institute will increase theunderstanding and appreciation of Chinese cultureand increase the interest in Chinese languagelearning in the city and beyond. The ConfuciusInstitute will contribute to the Scottish Government’sChina plan, providing a source of developmentand support for businesses active in China,strengthening trade links, encouraging tourismand boosting inward investment between Scotlandand China.

Professor Anton MuscatelliPrincipal, University of Glasgow

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The Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgowwas opened by Scotland’s First Minister, MSP Alex Salmond inOctober 2011. It is a partnership with Nankai University in thenorthern Chinese city of Tianjin and is supported by Hanban.It builds on long-standing research collaborations between thetwo universities and is strongly founded on research on Chinaacross the University of Glasgow in the social sciences, arts,and business, in particular through the activities of the ScottishCentre for China Research. Since its launch, the ConfuciusInstitute at the University of Glasgow has benefitted from thesustained support of the Scottish Government, the ChineseEmbassy in London, the Chinese Consulate General inEdinburgh and Nankai University.

The overarching aim of the Confucius Institute is to promote understanding ofcontemporary China. Its specific goals are to increase the numbers of peoplein Scotland learning the Chinese language, to organise a wide range of publicevents, and to work with schools, cultural organisations and businesses tofoster engagement with China.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Glasgow promotes Chinese languageand culture in five ways:

Chinese language• Language classes for the general public: from introductory to more

advanced levels• Tailored language for business• Tailored individual language tutoring on request

Cultural events• Events based on important Chinese traditional festivals• Cinema screenings and photography exhibitions• Calligraphy demonstrations and classes

Support for schools• Encouraging learning of Chinese language and about China in schools• Helping develop the curriculum on contemporary China in schools• Training teachers

Promoting a research-led understanding of China• Lectures, seminars and workshops on the Chinese economy, politics,

society, culture and arts• Supporting and promoting research links between University of Glasgow

and partners in China

Promoting business engagement with China• Seminars, workshops and information events for small and medium-sized

enterprises• Tailored workshops on Chinese business culture• Support for exchange visits

These are discussed in more detail overleaf

Official Launch of Confucius InstituteSince its launch in 2011, the Confucius Institute at the University ofGlasgow has benefitted from the sustained support of the ScottishGovernment, the Chinese Embassy in London, theChinese Consulate General in Edinburgh and Nankai University.

Chinese language

The Confucius Institute welcomed its Co-Director Professor Lichang Su from Nankai University inJanuary 2012. Professor Su taught our first language classes from mid-January. Our first languageteacher Dr Xiaoqin Li arrived in late July and enabled us to run more classes. In total in 2012, wedelivered 14 classes with over 130 registered students:

January-March 2012:Level 1 and Level 2 (three classes, 18 students)April-June 2012:Level 1 and Level 2 (three classes, 40 students)23-27 July 2012:Intensive Level 1 (10 students)20-24 August 2012:Intensive Level 2 (3 students)September-December 2012:Beginners, Level 1 and Level 2 (five classes, 47 students)September-November 2012:Calligraphy (4 students)October-November 2012:Private one-to-one classes: flexible hours (4 students)

Furthermore, The Confucius Institute offers tailored exam preparation and training for the ChineseProficiency Test HSK exam. The first exam was held on 8 September and a further exam was held inDecember. From 2013, we will organise HSK and Youth Chinese Test exams in line with the HanbanLondon Office’s plan.

Cultural events and activities

In 2012, the Confucius Institute organised and supported a series of very popularand well-attended cultural events and activities. These included a number ofevents for Chinese New Year or ‘Spring Festival’ attracting a total of 368participants. First, we supported the Ricefield Centre’s ‘Takeaway China’ events,including a private launch (19 January, 60 participants), a Chinese fooddemonstration, tea tasting and ceremony and ‘Chinese Dining Experience’(20 January, 52 participants); lantern making, a taster Tai Chi class, Chinesebuffet and storytelling, silken bamboo music and afternoon tea, and a further‘Chinese Dining Experience’ (21 January, 137 participants); lantern making,taster Tai Chi, Chinese buffet and storytelling, tea tasting and ceremony,afternoon tea, Chinese New Year Eve banquet and Shanghai Jazz (22 January,119 participants).

We also supported a Chinese film festival to celebrate a wide range ofcontemporary Chinese films (23 January – 6 February, total audience of 525) andtwo photography exhibitions, ‘Chinese on the Train’ and ‘Mood and Memory’,that showcased the photographs of contemporary photographers Wang Fuchunand Chi Peng (3 March – 14 April, 4,700 visitors).

On 28 January, the Confucius Institute sponsored the Glasgow Chinese Studentsand Scholars Association to deliver a Chinese New Year Gala Performance in thesplendid Bute Hall at the University of Glasgow. Professor Andrea Nolan, theSenior Vice-Principal and Mr Li Ruiyou, the Chinese Consul General attended thisspecial event, together with 400 students from three universities across theGlasgow area. The high quality entertainment offered a great opportunity for theChinese students to celebrate Chinese New Year together.

On 14 March in collaboration with the Burrell Collection, we put on a Chinese teaparty, including a demonstration of a Chinese tea ceremony (26 participants).

Over the year we also organised a series of highly popular talks to coincide withmajor contemporary Chinese festivals: Qingming (or ‘Tomb sweeping’) Festival(18 and 21 April, 72 participants); Dragon Boat Festival (21 and 23 June,46 participants); and Chinese Valentine’s Day (31 July 2012, 10 participants).

The series culminated with an extremely well-attended event that combined a talkon the history and myths behind Mid-autumn Festival with an introductory talk onChinese calligraphy and a calligraphy taster session. The audience was also ableto sample a range of delicious Chinese teas and mooncakes (28 September,300 participants).

Finally, in December the Confucius Institute supported an exhibition at theUniversity of Glasgow of photographs of contemporary Tibet by photo-journalistKieran Dodds called ‘People of the Third Pole: Photographs from the TibetanPlateau’. The exhibition was launched with a reception on 10 December and ranfrom 10 December 2012 to 31 January 2013.

Seminars and workshops

Over 2012, the Confucius Institute also organised a series of lectures andworkshops in collaboration with the Scottish Centre for China Research as partof its remit to promote research-led understanding of China. On 21 May,we were proud to host the University’s inaugural Glasgow China Lecture.The lecture, called ‘Riding the Tiger: Challenges of China’s Municipal Financein the 21st Century’ was delivered by distinguished speaker Professor ChristineWong of the University of Oxford and attracted 180 participants, includingProfessor Andrea Nolan, the Senior Vice-Principal, and Professor AnneAnderson, Head of the College of Social Sciences. There was enormouslyenthusiastic audience feedback on Professor Wong’s highly stimulating andinformative lecture and on the basis of her talk for us, she was invited back togive another lecture at the Scottish Parliament in November 2012.

On 3 October, we were proud to host our first anniversary lecture, delivered byProfessor Xinzhong Yao, Director of the Lau China Institute at King’s College,London. His lecture was titled, ‘The Revival of Confucianism and the PoliticalFuture of China’. This proved to be a highly popular subject and theinternationally-renowned Professor Yao attracted an audience of 130.

The Confucius Institute then organised a major international workshop on31 October, on ’China and the EU: Perceptions and Policies’. The speakerswere Professor Dong Lisheng from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,Professor Guan Xinping from Nankai University, and Mr George Cunninghamfrom the European External Action Service (EEAS) Office of the EuropeanCommission in Brussels. The event involved talks by the visiting speakersfollowed by a lively roundtable discussion with the audience (80 participants).MSP Graeme Pearson opened the event, which was also attended byProfessor Anne Anderson, Head of the College of Social Sciences, Ms CarolineWinchester, the Press and Political Officer from the European Commission’sEdinburgh Office, and Mr James Brodie, the Manager of the China BritainBusiness Council’s Edinburgh office.

In November we organised a lecture on ‘Chinese Export Silver (1785-1940) -The Jewel in the Crown of 1200 Years of Chinese Silver-making’ by Adrien vonFerscht (14 November, 60 participants). Adrien von Ferscht is one of theforemost experts in Chinese Export Silver in the UK. The talk discussed exportsilver in the wider context of the 1200 year history of Chinese silver making,combining relevant anthropological and cultural elements as well as the rolethe Opium Wars played in expanding the production of Chinese Export Silver.The talk attracted a wide-ranging audience, particularly students from theCollege of Arts at the University of Glasgow.

Finally, on 26 November, the Confucius Institute hosted a lecture on‘Challenges to China’s Continued Rapid Growth’ by distinguished Professor ofEconomics, John Knight of the University of Oxford (90 participants).

I am grateful I had the opportunity to travel andexperience China and aspects of the countrywhich would not have been readily accessible tome both without financial assistance from theConfucius institute at Glasgow, but also withoutthe affable and helpful hosts at Zhejiang University.The Study China programme allowed me to engagewith China deeper than sightseeing and reading,and has certainly had an impact on my future pathin life. Again I can’t thank the Confucius institute atGlasgow enough for helping me partake in theStudy China programme in Hangzhou.

Adam GraudusStudent, University of Glasgow

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Exchanges and scholarships

The Confucius Institute has secured 11 places for students at the University ofGlasgow to study in China under the Confucius Institute Scholarship and theChinese Government Scholarship programmes.

We also sponsored one student, Adam Graudus, to take up a cultural andlanguage exchange in China in April.

Support for Schools

The Confucius Institute is keen to offer support to local schools in encouragingmore young people to learn Chinese language and culture. When we learnedthat Larkhall Academy was going to China for a language and cultural exchange,we sent Institute Manager, Duo Long, to the school on 11 June 2012 to delivera pre-departure talk. Both the teachers and students enjoyed a very useful talk.

On 29 October we also travelled to Bearsden Academy, just outside Glasgow,to speak to S5 and S6 pupils studying China as part of their Modern Studiescurriculum. Institute Director Professor Jane Duckett talked about the Chinesegovernment’s policies to tackle inequality and poverty in China and pupilsenthusiastically engaged in group activities that included considering the policiesthey would introduce to reduce inequalities.

Confucius Institute Director Professor Jane Duckett and Co-Director ProfessorSu Lichang travelled to Gleneagles on 12 November to participate in a ChinaYouth Summit organised by the University of Strathclyde and the ScotlandChina Education Network. This event gave the Institute an opportunity to meetteachers and pupils as well Scottish government and other Confucius Institutecolleagues and to further our collaborative relationships in support of schoolsteaching Chinese language and culture across Scotland.

Visits and university exchange

During the June Jubilee holiday, the Confucius Institute was honoured towelcome a delegation from Hanban and Nankai University headed by DirectorGeneral Madame Xu Lin and Chancellor Professor Xue Jinwen. Our visitorswere impressed by the University’s investment in the Institute and itscommitment to engagement with China.

During this visit Nankai University and the University of Glasgow signed aMemorandum of Understanding to work together on a 3+1 undergraduateteaching programme that allows Nankai University students to study for a yearin Glasgow. This marks a further major step in the ever closer relationshipbetween the two universities – and one that is supported by the ConfuciusInstitute. The Confucius Institute has supported the visits of two scholars fromNankai University – Professor Sun Tao and Dr Zhai Lei – who spent one weekand three months respectively in Glasgow helping design the curriculumin detail.

In September the Confucius Institute assisted the Education Section of theChinese Embassy in London when it organised a meeting between the MinisterCounsellor Mr Shen Yang and the Chinese students who are funded by theMinister of Education of China.

This year, the ConfuciusInstitute secured for me theopportunity of a lifetime.Thanks to their help andencouragement, I now have afull scholarship to study aMasters in Marxist Philosophyat Shandong University.As my Masters is taught inMandarin, my time in Chinaalso involves an intensiveprogram of language classesthat can only prove beneficialto both my experience of lifein China and my futureemployment prospects. I feelsure this study opportunitywill change my life, andwould encourage anyone todo the same.

Megan CowieGraduate, University of Glasgow

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Support for business engagement with China

The Confucius Institute supports local businesses in their engagement withChina. On 30 October 2012, under the request from the Scottish Government,our Manager Duo Long helped Scottish Schools Education Research Centre towelcome a delegation of 12 people from the Research Institute of EducationalEquipment, Ministry of Education of China. The delegation spent half a day atthe Research Centre and had a very productive visit. Mr Han, Director of theResearch Institute of Education Equipment from China addressed in hisclosing remarks, “this is the last stop of our visit in Scotland but it is the mostproductive one, thanks very much for the arrangement, especially thetranslation services and hospitality we received via the Confucius Institute atthe University of Glasgow”.

We are planning new activities to help more local businesses, especially SMEs,build more links with China.

Awards

On 5 April, Confucius Institute Director Professor Jane Duckett received theprestigious Lord Provost Education Award at a special ceremony held in theGlasgow City Chambers. Professor Andrea Nolan, the Senior Vice-Principal,Professor Anne Anderson, Head of Social Sciences College, Professor SuLichang, Co-Director, Ms Duo Long, Institute Manager, and many otherdistinguished guests attended this special event.

The Award was one of several made to men and women who have dedicatedtheir professional lives to public services, worked selflessly for their communitiesor distinguished themselves in business, the arts, sport or entertainment.

Professor Duckett was presented with the award by the Lord Provost of GlasgowCouncillor, Bob Winter. In what was his last major public event in the CityChambers before he demitted office in May 2012 after five years as Glasgow'sFirst Citizen, Counsellor Winter said: “This event truly is one of the mostrewarding for me as the city's Lord Provost. It is such a great occasion and to beable to honour people from diverse walks of life and who all have one thing incommon – a commitment to Glasgow and its people. I can think of no better wayto express our gratitude to these outstanding men and women by celebratingtheir achievements this way and in presenting them with an award.”

Professor Duckett founded the Scottish Centre for China Research at theUniversity of Glasgow in 2008 and developed distinctive new MSc programmesin Glasgow in Chinese Studies. She also played a key role in setting up theConfucius Institute at the University of Glasgow in 2011. Together withcolleagues at the Institute, she works within the University and beyond –with government, businesses and the wider community in Glasgow and acrossScotland – to foster stronger, knowledge-based engagement with China.

Summary and looking forward

It was a busy but very successful first year for the Confucius Institute. Seniormembers of staff at the Confucius Institute have worked closely with theChinese Embassy in London, the Consulate General in Edinburgh, the ScottishGovernment, other Confucius Institutes and community organisations acrossScotland. And we have drawn large audience: a total of 7,021 people haveattended events we have organised and supported from across the generalpublic and local schools for our events, and we have received very positivefeedback.

2012 has been an exciting year for us, and one on which we intend to build forthe future. Next year we will offer a wider range of language classes, delivercultural events around Chinese festivals, and extend our range of lectures,seminars and student exchange between China and the UK.

The Confucius Institute will continue to expand its activities particularly inpromoting Chinese culture and engaging with young people to stimulate theirinterest in learning more about China, as well as to enhance the already stronglinks with China both within and beyond the University of Glasgow and acrossScotland.

Date

19 January20 January

21 January

22 January

23 January–6 February28 JanuaryJanuary–March3 March–14 April

13 March

17 March5 April16–17 April18 April

18 and 21 AprilApril–June21 May

5 June6 June

6–8 June9 June11 June

21 and 23 June23–27 July31 July

Number of participants

6052

137

119

525400184,700

3 from CI, UoG

24 from UoG1 from CI, UoG1 from CI, UoG

7240180

353 from CI, UoG

3 from CI, UoG1 from CI, UoG30

461010

Event

Launch of ‘Takeaway China’Chinese food demonstration, tea tasting and ceremony,Chinese Dining ExperienceLantern making, taster Tai Chi, Chinese buffet and storytelling,silken bamboo music and afternoon tea, Chinese Dining ExperienceLantern making, taster Tai Chi, Chinese buffet and storytelling,tea tasting and ceremony, afternoon tea, Chinese New Year eve banquetand Shanghai JazzFilm festivalChinese New Year Gala PerformanceLevel 1 and Level 2 Chinese language classes (3 classes)Wang Fuchun ‘Chinese on the train’ photography exhibitionChi Peng ‘Mood and Memory’ photography exhibitionCelebration of 40 Years of the China-UK Ambassadorial LevelDiplomatic Relations at Chinese Consulate General, EdinburghChinese Bridge Competition in LondonLord Provost Award Ceremony to Professor Jane DuckettLondon Book Fair, Hanban book exhibitions and cultural activitiesPresence at the 5th anniversary of Confucius Institute of TraditionalChinese Medicine at London South Bank University.Qingming festival public talkLevel 1 and Level 2 Chinese language classes (3 classes)Lecture ‘Riding the Tiger: Challenges of China’s Municipal Finance inthe 21st Century’ by Professor Christine Wong from University of OxfordVisit by Hanban and Nankai UniversityOfficial Launch of the Confucius Institute for Scotland Schools at theUniversity of StrathclydeEuropean Confucius Institute Conference at the University of EdinburghOfficial Launch of the Confucius Institute at Goldsmith CollegePre-departure briefing on China by Manager Duo Long atLarkhall AcademyDragon boat festival public talkIntensive Level 1 Chinese language classesChinese Valentine’s Day public talk

Summary of activities in 2012

20–24 August8 September20 September27 September

28 September29 September

29 September

September–DecemberSeptember–November3 October

30 October

30 October31 October

October–November7 November12 November

14 November

26 November

1 December10 December – 31 January 201315–18 December

31702 from CI, UoG

3002 from CI, UoG

60

474130

20

2 from CI, UoG80

41 from CI, UoG2 from CI, UoG

50

70

140 at the launch reception

2 from CI, UoG

Intensive Level 2 Chinese language classesHSK Level 2 ExamVisit by Education Section, Chinese Embassy LondonCelebration of the 63rd Anniversary of the Founding of the People'sRepublic of China at the Chinese Consulate General, EdinburghMid-autumn Festival celebration lectures and partyOpening Ceremony of ‘Scotland in Conversation with China’ at theUniversity of StrathclydeTalk on ‘Chinese government’s policies to tackle inequality and povertyin China’ by Professor Jane Duckett to pupils at Bearsden AcademyBeginners, Level 1 and 2 Chinese language classes (5 classes)Calligraphy classesLecture ‘The Revival of Confucianism and the Political Future of China’by Professor Xinzhong Yao from King’s College, University of LondonMeeting with delegates from Research Institute of EducationalEquipment, Ministry of Education of China at Scottish SchoolsEducation Research CentreReception of ‘Scotland in Conversation with China’ at Scottish ParliamentWorkshop ‘China and the EU: Perceptions and Policies’, with presentationsby Professor Dong Lisheng from Chinese Academy of Social Sciences,Professor Guan Xinping from Nankai University, and Mr GeorgeCunningham from the European External Action Service (EEAS) OfficePrivate one-to-one Chinese language classesLord Provost's Conference Ambassador Reception at the City ChambersChina Youth Summit at Gleneagles, organised by Scotland ChinaEducation NetworkLecture ‘Chinese Export Silver (1785 – 1940) – The Jewel in the Crown of1200 Years of Chinese Silver-making’Lecture ‘Challenges to China’s Continued Rapid Growth’ by distinguishedProfessor of Economics, John Knight of the University of OxfordHSK Level 1 ExamKieran Dodds ‘People of the Third Pole: Photographs from the TibetanPlateau’ exhibitionAttend International Confucius Institutes Conference in Beijing

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Confucius InstituteGround Floor, John McIntyre Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQTel: +44 (0)141 330 7730 Email: Confucius@glasgow.ac.uk Web: www.glasgow.ac.uk/confuciusinstitute