On the afternoon of May 8, the 19th council meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield, UK, was held in a hybrid format, both online and offline. Tan Tieniu, Chair of Nanjing University CPC Council and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and Chinese Co-Chairman of the Confucius Institute, attended the meeting.
Tan Tieniu pointed out that the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield is an important outcome of the pragmatic cooperation among Nanjing University, the University of Sheffield, and Beijing Language and Culture University, effectively serving its role as a global model Confucius Institute. He expressed expectations and suggestions for the preparation of the 20th anniversary of the Confucius Institute and future work, and looked forward to further collaboration among the three schools using the Confucius Institute as a platform in broader fields.
Zhou Zhihua, Vice President of Nanjing University and Academician of the CAS, welcomed all council members and representatives at the opening speech. He fully recognized the achievements of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield over the past year and emphasized that the Confucius Institute is not only a platform for language teaching but also a bond for cultural exchange and a bridge for mutual understanding.
Malcolm Butler, Vice President of the University of Sheffield, expressed gratitude for the long-term support from Nanjing University and Beijing Language and Culture University for the Confucius Institute. He pointed out that the university's mission, in addition to education and research, includes serving society and enhancing mutual understanding and communication between different cultures and viewpoints, and the Confucius Institute is a vivid embodiment of this mission.
Huang Yifang, Vice President of Beijing Language and Culture University and Chinese Vice Chairman of the Confucius Institute, stated that as an international university characterized by its strengths in international Chinese education, Beijing Language and Culture University has always regarded the Confucius Institute as an important platform for international Chinese education and cultural exchange. It has consistently supported the development of the Confucius Institute with the concept of "one institute, one policy," and the collaboration among the three schools is a unique advantage of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield.
The council then reviewed and approved the 2025 work report, 2026 work plan, and related budget reports for the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield. The three parties unanimously agreed that next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute, and they must work together, plan ahead, and prepare carefully to use this opportunity to promote the work of the Confucius Institute to new heights.
The Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield officially opened in January 2007, with Nanjing University and Beijing Language and Culture University as the Chinese hosting institutions. This Confucius Institute has been awarded the title of "Model Confucius Institute" globally and has become one of the most influential Confucius Institutes in the UK and beyond.
Andy Barker, the English Co-Chairman of the Confucius Institute, as well as heads from the NJU Confucius Institute Office and the Institute for International Students, attended the meeting in Nanjing. The heads of the Confucius Institute at the University of Sheffield and relevant functional departments from Beijing Language and Culture University participated in the meeting from venues in the UK and Beijing, China, respectively.
