The University of Queensland will establish Australia's first Confucius Institute focused on China’s contributions to the advancement of science, engineering and technology.
UQ Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Professor Michael Keniger, who signed an agreement on UQ's behalf in Beijing on April 16, said the emphasis on science and technology would complement the strengths of other Australian-based Confucius Institutes, which have foci including language and business.
"The UQ Confucius Institute will deepen and diversify the intellectual and scholarly links between Australia and China, to the benefit of both nations," he said.
"It will give UQ students new opportunities to study and conduct research overseas, to hone their language skills and to immerse themselves in Chinese culture.
"This will be a terrific grounding for students and also for Australia, as the nation turns increasingly to professionals and leaders who are fluent in the language and culture of our key international partners."
A key aim of the UQ Confucius Institute will be improving knowledge of the phenomenal contributions that China and its people have made to global science and technology.
Other activities will include:
• Promoting science and technology collaboration between Australia and China;
• Hosting forums and guest lectures by science and technology scholars;
• Encouraging bilateral high level government and corporate visits.
Professor Keniger said a respected Chinese science and technology institution, Tianjin University was UQ's proposed partner in the Institute, and discussions between the two institutions were proceeding extremely well.
Tianjin excels in engineering and already has an articulation agreement with UQ’s School of Engineering.
UQ began teaching Mandarin more than 40 years ago, and around 400 students each year undertake degrees relating to Chinese language and culture.
There are about 1400 Chinese students at UQ.
The UQ Confucius Institute will be based at the St Lucia campus in Brisbane.
Confucius Institute is a non-profit network devoted to promoting Chinese language and culture through education. Its headquarters are the Office of Chinese Language Council International, or Hanban, in Beijing.
Media contact: Fiona Kennedy +61 7 3365 1384
