Participation in the Second Confucius Institute Conference

By Sunny Chen

Professor John Hearn, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), Professor Jeffrey Riegel, Head, School of Languages and Cultures and Professor Mayfair Yang, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sydney participated in the Second Confucius Institute Conference in Beijing in early November 2007. More than 1000 representatives from 210 Confucius Institutes from 64 countries and areas attended the conference.


Speakers at the conference emphasised that language, as a tool for human interaction, plays an increasingly more important role in strengthening relationships among countries. It was noted that the quality of the staff, curriculum and teaching materials will play a vital role in ensuring the success of the Confucius Institute model and that management should pay special attention to these issues. However it was also noted each institute will develop differently depending on the needs of the country or region that it has been established in. After an opening ceremony at the Great Hall of People in Beijing, a Confucius Institute exhibition was unveiled. The representatives commented that the conference was a great opportunity to share experiences, resources and learn from one another.