Recently, the 2024 (Latter Half) Pre-Service Training for Chinese Directors of Confucius Institutes, hosted by the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF) and organized by Capital Normal University, concluded successfully in Beijing. 61 Chinese Directors Elect of the Confucius Institute from 51 institutions participated in the 12-day intensive training.
This training was designed to meet the practical needs of Chinese Directors in their future overseas posts. The carefully curated curriculum covered a wide range of key areas, including Confucius Institute management, brand event planning and image building, International Chinese language education, protocol for foreign affairs, mental health and risk prevention, and competency development for Chinese Directors, etc. The program offered comprehensive and multi-dimensional pre-service guidance for Chinese Directors Elect, reinforcing their conceptual understanding of the Confucius Institute’s undertaking and their practical capacity to serve as directors.
The Chinese Directors Elect expressed high recognition for the training. Zhang Huijing, a recipient of the inaugural Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director and soon to take up her post in France, said: "In 2004, I embarked on this journey alongside the Confucius Institute and have been dedicated to its cause for 19 years. My life has become closely intertwined with the Institute. This time I was ‘back to the drawing board’. The training came just in time. It has fulfilled my desire to gain deeper insights into the latest developments, resources, and dynamics of the Confucius Institute.”
The graduation ceremony was organized by the Chinese Directors Elect themselves, who presented impressive talent performances and training outcome reports. It served both as a practical exercise in organizing cultural activities and as a heartfelt expression of their passion and best wishes for the Confucius Institute. This year 2024 marks a double celebration for the 20th Anniversary of the Confucius Institute and the 70th Anniversary of Capital Normal University. On this special occasion, the Directors Elect presented commemorative plaques of appreciation to CIEF and Capital Normal University. The atmosphere on-site was filled with enthusiasm and affection.
Zhao Lingshan, Vice President and Secretary-General of CIEF, extended congratulations to the Directors for the complete success of their training. He emphasized that over the past two decades since the establishment of the Confucius Institute Brand, the remarkable achievements in facilitating mutual learning and exchanges among various civilizations would not have been possible without the dedicated efforts of all CIers. As trailblazers of the Confucius Institutes, Chinese Directors must take the lead, improve strategic thinking, enhance ideological awareness, and strengthen their sense of responsibility, mission, and urgency in advancing the high-quality and efficient development of the Institute. They are encouraged to build Confucius Institutes that are more professional, distinctive, dynamic, well-partnered, and people-centered, thus laying a solid foundation to excel as outstanding Directors and CIers.
This training was organized by Capital Normal University. Ma Ligeng, Vice President of Capital Normal University, attended the graduation ceremony and delivered a speech.
