Chinese learning centre opens

A new Chinese learning centre, the first of its kind in Australia, will open at the University of Western Australia today.

The Confucius Institute is a joint venture between UWA and the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOCFL) in Beijing.

It will promote Chinese language and culture for students and the community, and boost the country’s relations with China.

A new policy of the Chinese Government is to establish 100 Confucius Institutes around the globe.

This is already on track, with institutes at the University of Maryland in the US, Oslo, Seoul, and another to be set up in New Zealand.

UWA Institute for International Development and Confucius Institute project manager, Professor Paige Porter, said the Chinese Government approached the university a few months ago about establishing the institute.

“For about the last three years there has been a UWA working party wanting to see how it could establish a Chinese study centre, but then the Confucius Institute proposal came along,” she said.

“The institute is being equally funded by UWA and China and the board will be comprised of people from each. This project will continue the development of existing relationships between WA and China.

“It will facilitate WA’s economic development, deepen Australia’s knowledge of China, and provide the opportunity for Chinese people to work in Australia and vice versa.”

Some of the courses and activities proposed for the institute’s first year of operation include: Chinese language teaching incorporating business, living and travelling; weekend classes for school children; and one-to-one language courses for business executives.

Hosting of Chinese teachers, students, researchers and experts to the institute for lectures and other functions is also planned.

Professor Porter said an agreement had been signed between the China National Office and UWA for three years with a possible extension for another three.

“The long government and ‘public affairs’ connections have contributed to the current, extraordinary economic links between China and WA, and created fertile ground from which the Confucius Institute has grown,” she said.

“The institute will be located within the faculty of arts, humanities and social sciences and will promote teaching of Chinese language and culture as well as research relating to Chinese culture and society in Australia, particularly WA.”

Professor Porter said there were a number of reasons for choosing to open an institute in WA.

These included a long political and economic connection. The past six Australian ambassadors to China have come from WA (five of which are UWA graduates), and UWA and Curtin University train senior Chinese resource sector managers, as part of the $25 billion LNG sale of gas to China.

A draft strategic plan for the UWA Confucius Institute details how it will operate in its first year (July 2005 to June 2006) and strengthen the State’s engagement with China.

Professor Porter said the main priorities for the UWA Confucius Institute in its first year would be to clarify community needs and establish the institute and its procedures.

It will appoint a board, organise the physical location, resource and staff the office, promote awareness and begin activities.

Senior Chinese officials will attend the launch.