School Bulletin

Teaching Chinese to the World:

The Roles of Confucius Institutes

Kenneth King is the Professor of Comparative and International Education at the University of Edinburgh, where he formerly served as director of the Centre of African Studies. He has held numerous prestigious positions, including chairman of the British Association for International and Comparative Education (BAICE), chairman of the UK Forum for International Education and Training (UKFIET), vice chairman of the Royal African Society, and chairman of the Scottish Royal African Society. Additionally, he has been a distinguished visiting Professor at the University of Hong Kong. Widely regarded as one of the foremost scholars in the fields of comparative education, vocational education, and African studies, his work has garnered over 8000 citations on Google Scholar. His book named China’s Aid and Soft Power in Africa: Education and Training as a Case Study has been translated and published by Zhejiang University Press.

Synopsis: The lecture will primarily delve into the role played by China's international language and cultural dissemination institution—the Confucius Institutes—in the global promotion and teaching of Chinese language. Professor King will discuss their significance in research, the role of opportunities in scientific inquiry within Africa and China, various types of Confucius Institutes, research conducted on them across different countries, and the challenges faced by Confucius Institutes in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Speaker: Prof. Kenneth King

Chairman: Dr. Li Si Yuan

Date: 19:00, Friday, October 27, 2023

Location: Lecture Hall 2, 1F, Building 6, School of Foreign Languages,

Chang'an Campus, Northwest University

Organizers: Office of Social Sciences/ School of Foreign Languages/Institute

of Area Studies and Translation

Welcome teachers and students to participate actively!