The First Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at UQ in 2012 Held Successfully via Videoconferencing

The First Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of Queensland (UQ) in 2012 was held via videoconferencing on August 3.

Dr. Anna Ciccarelli, Chair of the Board, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice-President of UQ hosted the board meeting. Participants on the UQ side also included the Executive Deans of the Faculties of Arts, Science as well as Engineering, Architecture & Information Technology and also the representatives of the Confucius Institute at UQ. Tianjin University (TJU) attendees were Professor Liu Jianping, Chairman of the University Council and Vice Chair of the Board, as well as the representatives from the Graduate School, the School of International Education and the Office of International Cooperation.

Dr. Ciccarelli extended her welcome and made a brief introduction to the board members. At the meeting, the minutes of the 2nd Board Meeting in 2011 were accepted and endorsed. Subsequently, Professor Chen Ping, Director of the Confucius Institute at UQ made a half-year report of the Confucius Institute, which was discussed and favorably accepted. He presented the work done and the achievements made by the Confucius Institute over the past year, including faculty and student exchange between TJU and UQ, the promoting of sinological research, and various academic activities on sinology. These have greatly improved the educational quality and international influence of the Confucius Institute and won high praise from Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters). Dr. Ciccarelli and Professor Liu both spoke highly of the achievements of the Confucius Institute.

During the meeting, the two sides also discussed faculty and student exchange and joint research. In the end, a consensus was reached for the schedule of the next board meeting. Dr. Ciccarelli made a conclusion of the meeting and extended her thanks to Professor Liu and the board members.

TJU and UQ started the discussion on the establishment of the Confucius Institute in 2007. The Agreement for the Establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Queensland was signed in October 2009. Now the Confucius Institute at UQ has become an important platform to enhance all-round cooperation between the two universities.