Aimed at promoting friendly relationship with other countries and enhancing the understanding of the Chinese language and culture among world Chinese learners as well as providing good learning conditions for them, the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language is to set up "Confucius Institute" in the world, whose major activities includes Chinese teaching in countries that have the needs and conditions. At the same time, the "Confucius Institute Headquarter" will be established in Beijing.
Ⅰ. Name
The English name of this institute is "Confucius Institute". Confucius is a famous thinker, educator and philosopher in Chinese history. His doctrine has a very important influence throughout the world. To name this institute after him shows the longevity and profundity of Chinese language and culture. It also embodies the development trend of the integration of Chinese language and culture into the world in the new century.
The "Confucius Institute Headquarter" is to be established in Beijing and enjoys an independent legal person status. Its branches, the "Confucius Institute" will be set up abroad, with a Chinese name "XX孔子学院" （XX is the name of city where the institute is located and an English name "Confucius Institute in XX". Names in other languages will be translated from English.
Ⅱ. Definition
"Confucius Institute" is a non-profit public institute with a mission of promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching. It abides by the local law and regulations and is subject to supervision and inspections from the local educational administrative authorities.
Ⅲ. Business Line
The business lines of "Confucius Institute" are Chinese language teaching and promotion with a local flavor. Generally speaking, it includes the following:
1. multimedia and web-based Chinese teaching;
2. professional training for university, secondary and elementary school Chinese teachers;
3. HSK tests and examination for certificate of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language;
4. all types of Chinese programs (corporate program, preparation course for study in China, pre-examination training for HSK and other Chinese tests) and course of Chinese for special purposes (translation, tourism, business, finance or Traditional Chinese Medicine);
5. Chinese degree courses integrated with those in Chinese universities and institutes;
6. helping formulate Chinese teaching curriculum or teaching plan;
7. promoting Chinese teaching materials and recommending Chinese teachers;
8. co-developing practical Chinese teaching materials tailored for local regions;
9. academic activities and Chinese competition;
10. showcasing Chinese movies and TV programs;
11. consulting service about study in China
12. library service for reference
Ⅳ. Type of Institution
"Confucius Institute" is a non-profit public organization, usually with an independent legal person status. The locality of "Confucius Institute" should be a rather busy business district where there's a large flow of people and a very convenient transportation system. The Headquarter provides teaching pattern and curriculum products as the main teaching resources for all the branches. Each branch will follow in their teaching and evaluation work a unified set of quality certification system and standard for teaching, testing and training. The "Confucius Institute" mainly offers training of Chinese for special purposes for the public and professional training for Chinese teachers. All these trainings fall into the category of non-degree education. The teaching focus of the "Confucius Institute" is applied Chinese.
"Confucius Institute Headquarter" also cooperates with universities in setting up on-campus Chinese centers to support degree programs like Chinese language major and Chinese as a public course as well as research centers to fuel research work in the field of China studies. Based on certain needs and conditions, these Chinese centers can also undertake teaching and promotion activities outside the university. In such case, these on-campus Chinese centers, China studies centers or Confucius Institutes set up in cooperation with universities do not necessarily have to take an independent legal person status.
Ⅴ. Founding Pattern
"Confucius Institute" can be built with direct investment from the Headquarter, partnership between the Headquarter and a local institute, or franchise authorized by the Headquarter. Currently the "Confucius Institute" will be built mainly through partnering with foreign institutes. The partnership mode is subject to discussion between the Headquarter and its partners from abroad.
Ⅵ. Eligibility requirement for partners
Higher learning institutes and other organizations with a purpose of promoting Chinese teaching and cultural exchange can offer to establish partnership with the headquarter (NOCFL) in jointly setting up the "Confucius Institute ". However, in principle, potential partners should meet the following prerequisites:
1. Accept operational guidance from the Headquarter and follow relevant teaching standard.
2. Have experiences in language teaching or educational and cultural exchanges
3. Familiar with the development of Chinese teaching in the country and region
4. Have an independent legal person qualification
5. Enjoy strong economic and managing abilities, can provide input in real estate, finance and resources for establishing the "Confucius Institute".
Ⅶ. What the Headquarter Can Offer
The Headquarter offers part or all of the following in light of the actual needs:
1. authorized use of the title of "Confucius Institute";
2. universal logo and emblem used by "Confucius Institute" worldwide;
3. teaching mode and curriculum planning;
4. user right to the "Great Wall Chinese" multimedia courseware, Chinese course books, supplementary materials, audio and video materials and web-based courses authorized by the Headquarter;
5. training on the operational and teaching patterns of the institute;
6. unified image package, publicity and promotion plan;
7. guidance to the operational management and development planning;
8. facilitation for timely communication of information about global Chinese language teaching;
9. a certain number of instructors teaching in the institute;
10. a certain number of books to help build a Chinese library;
11. a certain amount of financial support for organizing Chinese teaching and promotion activities.
Ⅷ. Organization and Management
The president of "Confucius Institute" works under the leadership of the Board of Trustees and is responsible for institute affairs. The Board of Trustees comprises of trustees from the Headquarter and its partner. The president and vice-president are selected through agreement reached by both partners.
1. Board of Trustees
Board of Trustees consists of one chair, several vice-chairs and trustees. Chair and vice-chairs are elected by the Board.
2. President
The president is nominated by chair of the Board and elected and appointed by the Board. The president needs to sign with the Chair (representing the Board) on a regular basis a contract clearly defining the president's mission and goals, working period, responsibilities, rewards & punishments and standard of performance assessment.
3. The two partners will discuss on how to co-manage financial, teaching and personnel affairs.
Ⅸ. Founding Process
The founding process is as follows:
The foreign partner submits to the Headquarter a proposal and related materials → the Headquarter evaluates its qualification and conditions → the two partners exchange field trips and conduct negotiations → a cooperative agreement signed → Board of trustees set up → President and directors of different departments selected → official opening of the Institute.
The prospective partners need to submit the following materials:
Letter of Proposal，cooperative agreement (draft), analytical report of the history, current status and future prospects of local Chinese teaching and qualification certificate (legal person certificate or registration certificate).
Ⅹ. Quality Certification
In order to ensure the special feature and teaching quality of the "Confucius Institute", the Headquarter will regularly assess the institutes and conduct quality certification.
Content of quality certification includes: overall scale, performance, operational administration, teaching quality and special features, annual working report, development plan.
Ⅺ. Contact us
The "Confucius Institute" project is to be implemented by the "Confucius Institute Headquarter". At the moment, The National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language is responsible for this project. We welcome higher learning institutes and also organizations with a purpose of promoting Chinese teaching and cultural exchange to contact us for partnership in building the "Confucius Institute".
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