Education
Confucius Institute to be established in New Brunswick (07/02/05)
NB 145
Feb. 5, 2007
FREDERICTON (CNB) - New Brunswick has been chosen to host a highly-regarded Confucius Institute, Education Minister Kelly Lamrock announced today.
The aim of a Confucius Institute program, created by the Chinese Ministry of Education, is to promote friendly relationships with other countries and the study of Chinese language and culture.
An agreement signed today between Atlantic Education International Inc., an affiliate of the New Brunswick Department of Education, and the Office of Chinese Language Council International-Hanban, will see the establishment of a Confucius Institute in New Brunswick.
"The Confucius Institute of New Brunswick has occurred as a result of our10 years of successful involvement in education with China," Lamrock said. "New Brunswick is highly regarded for being a pioneer in delivery of school curriculum with China, and this relationship positions us where many countries and many other provinces would like to be."
China plans to create 100 Confucius Institutes worldwide to encourage better understanding of Chinese language and culture. Confucius was a fifth-century Chinese philosopher and teacher whose thought shaped traditional and modern Asian culture.
"China has become one of the biggest sources of international students in New Brunswick and Canada as a whole," said Shi Shuyun, Counsellor of Educational Affairs for the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada. "At the same time, more and more Canadians start to learn Chinese and want to know more about Chinese culture. The establishment of the Confucius Institute of New Brunswick will be a valuable resource in assisting people in understanding Chinese language and culture."
"This institute shows the strategic advantage of our educational partnership with China," Lamrock said. "Premier Shawn Graham wants New Brunswick to take a leadership role in economic development and now, through the Confucius Institute of New Brunswick, our businesses will have an important resource to help our people and products break into the world's fastest growing marketplace."
Beginning this spring, courses will be offered through the Confucius Institute of New Brunswick, which will be located at the Atlantic Education International office in Moncton.
07/02/05
EDITOR'S NOTE: Objectives of the Confucius Institute of New Brunswick are attached. MEDIA CONTACT: Jason Humphrey, communications, Education, 506 444-4714.
Objectives of the Confucius Institute of New Brunswick
Chinese Language Teaching:
- To promote and deliver teaching of Chinese in Eastern Canada to citizens, business persons and other students at appropriate levels.
- To develop programs in Eastern Canada for training teachers of Chinese in collaboration with the Chinese partner institution.
- To act as a service centre for instructors in Eastern Canada teaching Chinese in public and private secondary schools and language schools.
- To collaborate in the delivery of Chinese language related programs within universities and schools throughout Eastern Canada.
- To hold examinations in Eastern Canada for the Chinese Language Proficiency Test.
Chinese Culture:
- To promote public knowledge and understanding of Chinese culture in Eastern Canada through public lectures, seminars and other events.
- To plan and mount in Eastern Canada, exhibitions/festivals of Chinese culture to delivered as appropriate in collaboration with partner organizations in China, and Eastern Canada.
- To promote exchange events from Eastern Canada in China.
Chinese Business Support:
- To serve as a consulting and linkage centre for the Eastern Canadian business community and their counterparts in China.
- To provide language and acculturation programs for Eastern Canadian business persons who will travel to or do business with China.
Scholarship:
- To promote scholarship relating to China in association with other appropriate departments in other Canadian Universities, colleges, high schools and elsewhere.
- To develop senior visiting fellow programs.
- To promote specific programs of research in Eastern Canada.
07/02/05