Recently, the 2025 (Latter Half) Pre-service Training for Chinese Directors of Confucius Institutes, hosted by the CIEF, was successfully concluded in Xiamen. Fifty-five prospective directors from 44 Chinese partner institutions participated in the 12-day intensive training and will soon begin their work in 33 countries around the world.
To align with the transformation and digitalization of Confucius Institutes in the new era and enhance the capabilities of directors, the training program covers the following: CIEF functions and operations, the pivotal role of Chinese hosts, Confucius Institute management, AI integration, director responsibilities and competencies, teaching resource utilization, cultural event planning, and cross-cultural communication. Participants have also learned diplomatic etiquette standards and basic emergency response skills. The program has invited senior experts and scholars from domestic and international universities, providing a mentorship model through group discussions and experience-sharing sessions to offer comprehensive professional development opportunities for incoming directors.
At the closing ceremony, four incoming directors shared their reflections on the training. They stated that the training content was rich and comprehensive, providing a systematic knowledge framework for directors about to assume their posts and offering a practical "toolbox." This enabled everyone to gain professional knowledge and hands-on experience, while also forging cross-border camaraderie and forming a mutually supportive "alliance". This transformation has helped them evolve from "exam-takers" with a sense of mission into "companions" with firm convictions. In the future, the directors will carry their learning and insights to various parts of the world, serving as ambassadors of civilization to build bridges for international exchange. They will tell the story of China, and contribute to the thriving development of international Chinese education, ushering in a new chapter in the mutual learning of civilizations.
In his closing remarks, Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Secretary-General of CIEF, highlighted that over the past 21 years since its establishment, Confucius Institute has achieved remarkable success in promoting cultural exchanges and international educational cooperation. As the backbone of Confucius institutes, Chinese directors should uphold the principles of truthfulness, sincerity, amity and harmony to build bridges of mutual understanding, trust and learning between China and the rest of the world. He urged all directors to fulfill their roles, steer the institutes development in the right orientation, safeguard their brand image, and make their due contribution to fostering the exchange and mutual learning among diverse civilizations worldwide.
The training was organized by Xiamen University. Mr. Ji Rongrong, assistant to the university president, attended the closing ceremony and delivered a speech. During the training, Dean Chen Zhiwei of the School of International Chinese Education gave a special lecture titled "Giving Full Play to the Role of Chinese Hosts of the Confucius Institute".
