Research Universities in China: Pressures & Challenges – November 2010

This guest lecture from Prof Shen Li of Fudan University, Shanghai is based on Professor Shen’s reflections on the many students she has taught at Fudan University in the past decade. A thumbnail picture emerges of the prevailing trends among young students in their 20’s as they come and go on campus.

To the fore of their minds is the risk of being pushed to the sidelines, as the legion of students, undergraduate and postgraduate alike, strives to achieve academic excellence and retain their integrity.

Sentiments generally called 浮躁 (fú zào) in Chinese, which include anxiety, uncertainty, and restlessness, are creeping in – largely due, in Professor Shen’s view, to the widespread social maladies known as ‘get-rich-quickism’ , ‘cutting corners’, and ‘easy gains with little effort’.

Professor Shen Li is based in the College of Foreign Language and Literature at Fudan University, Shanghai where she specialises in Metaphor Studies and Second Language Acquisition.

DATE: Tuesday 30 November 2010
TIME: 2.30pm-3.15pm
VENUE:Confucius Institute for Scotland, Abden House

Lunchtime Talk-John Dudgeon – November 2010

Guest speaker Prof Gao Xi from Fudan University, Shanghai will mark the life of John Dudgeon who at one time was the most famous doctor in Beijing in her lunchtime talk on Tuesday 30th November 2010.

This famous physician was a son of Glasgow and student of Edinburgh.
In the mid 19th century it was said `From the emperor and officials down to the common people, there was practically no one who did not know about his good work in establishing hospitals`.

John Dudgeon was a son of Glasgow, a student at Edinburgh and at one time was the most famous doctor in Beijing, China. In 1863 with his wife in China with his wife in Shanghai in 1863 in the capacity of a medical missionary of London Medical Missionary Society.

His notable achievements include:

  • The opening in 1865 of Peking Hospital
  • implementation of a new model for medical instruction in China
  • the translation of `Gray’s Anatomy` into Chinese

He studied Chinese healing arts and explored the new diseases in Beijing before contributing his research to the Western world, especial to Edinburgh`s medical profession.

In 1884 Dudgeon resigned from the London Missionary Society and concentrated his efforts on modern medical education and the study of Chinese medical culture. He was a medical cultural exchange emissary between China and the Western World in the 19th century.

John Dudgeon died in 1902 and was buried in Beijing in where he had lived for more than 38 years.

Join us to hear more of the work and impact of this 19th century physician.

DATE: Tuesday 30 November 2010
TIME: 1.10pm-2pm
VENUE: 27 George Square, Celtic and Scottish Studies Conference Room, first floor
SPEAKER: Professor Gao Xi, History Department, Fudan University, Shanghai

Confucius Institute leads world

For the fourth consecutive year, the University’s Confucius Institute has been honoured as ‘Institute of the Year’.

The Institute of the Year 2010 Award was collected in Beijing by Principal Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea. It was bestowed upon the Confucius Institute for Scotland by Hanban, sponsor of the global network of Confucius Institutes and Classrooms.

The prizegiving was a highlight of the opening ceremony of the 2010 Fifth Worldwide Conference of Confucius Institutes on Friday, 10 December.The ceremony, at the China National Convention Centre, was chaired by Chinese State Councillor Liu Yandong and Minister of Education, Yuan Guiren.

The Principal received the award in front of an audience of more than 3000 people including VIPs from foreign embassies, senior government officials and principals from universities around the world.

Both the Principal and the Director of the Confucius Institute, Professor Natascha Gentz, gave presentations at the President’s and Director’s Forums on the following day of the Worldwide Conference.

Many institutions recruit Chinese students or provide language training. What sets the Confucius Institute for Scotland and the University apart is the depth of our engagement – we actively promote new cultural ties and educational links between Scotland and China. This award shows that our approach is recognised and rewarded at the highest levels.” Professor Natascha Gentz, Director of the Confucius Institute for Scotland.

World leading activities

There are now 322 Confucius Institutes and 369 Confucius Classrooms in 96 countries, serving almost 400,000 learners.

The Confucius Institute for Scotland at the University of Edinburgh was established in 2005 as a partnership between the University and Fudan University in Shanghai.

The Institute’s work in 2010 included hosting a touring exhibition on the city of Shanghai and the 2010 Expo and working in partnership with China’s Ministry of Culture to bring ethnic performers to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. These were among the highlights of a packed schedule of conferences, lectures and film screenings. The institute also runs a programme of Chinese language classes.

Shanghai Museum curator talk – October 2010

Shanghai Museum is one of the famous in China housing a diverse and accessible collection of over 120,000 pieces.

The Institute is delighted to host a special lecture by Ms Bao Yanli, Head of the Ethnography and Textiles who will share with us her knowledge and love of Gu Embroidery (Gu Xiu) in a talk on Tuesday 26 October from 6.30-7.30pm.

This is a lesser known art form which originated in one family during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644. In Gu Xiu the artist combines embroidery needlework skills with those used for traditional Chinese painting. This style proved very influential and remained popular until the late 18th century. It is today enjoying a resurgence.

This talk will be in Chinese with translation.

VENUE: Confucius Institute for Scotland
DATE : Tuesday 26th October 2010
TIME : 6.30pm-7.30pm

Join in – Membership Programme

To gain access to a wide range of services and resources, enrol now in membership.

The membership scheme has a number of benefits – benefits for members and for the Institute, more efficiencies and the ability to offer more services.

A summary of benefits is shown below. For full details please see the Membership section of the website.

Access to Confucius Institute services designed to simplify engagement with China

Borrowing rights at the Institute and University libraries

Advance booking options and privileged invitations

Regular updates

Individual membership for one year costs just £25 with a concession price of £10. The Institute is not for profit and our aim in introducing this membership package is to find a more effective way to deliver value and services to those people who support the aims of the CIS. If you share our aims to build bridges and enhance understanding of China please take out membership today. Register today!

Video Conference classes

This autumn students in Argyll, Elgin and Lewis will have the opportunity to learn Chinese with the Confucius Institute for Scotland in partnership with UHI Millenium Institute.

Following a successful pilot last year this autumn will see Video Conference classes running on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Students who enrol for these classes will have the opportunity of a face to face meeting with their tutor prior to the first class before meeting via the video conferencing network.

Last year`s pilot group of students and their teacher found the experience very satisfying and excellent progress was made by the students. While last year we offered a taster session this year`s students will be able to progress each term to the next level of learning.

Classes cost £135 which includes learning materials with a concession rate of £110.

More information is available from the Institute or from our local partners as shown below.

Lews Castle College, Stornoway Tuesday 6.30-8.30pm
Catherine Donald T: 01851 770 202
E:Catherine.Donald@lews.uhi.ac.uk

Moray College, Elgin, Wednesday 6.30-8.30pm
Helen Ospazuk T: 01343 576 326
E: helen.ospazuk@moray.uhi.ac.uk

Argyll College Thursday 6.30-8.30pm
Contact: Helen Gillies T: 01631 559 675
E: helen.gillies@argyllcollege.ac.uk

Students can also book directly with the Confucius Institute for Scotland by downloading and returning the booking form here.

Shanghai Exhibition at Scottish Parliament – September 2010

September sees the Institute`s touring exhibition on Shanghai and the 2010 Expo sited at the Scottish Parliament. The exhibition will be sited in the MSP`s lobby, the gathering point for MSP entering and leaving the debating chamber.

Since its first appearance in February 2010 at Atlantic Quay, the Exhibition has been seen by an estimated 50,000 people in locations including Atlantic Quay, Victoria Quay, the University of Edinburgh`s main library, Ocean Terminal and finally the Scottish Parliament.

Relating the story of Shanghai`s growth from a small fishing village to a world city hosting the world`s largest ever Expo, the exhibition and accompanying leaflet has been lauded by those who have been able to see it.

For a virtual visit to the touring exhibition and for more information on Shanghai Expo 2010 please visit our microsite.

Exhibition Location:
MSPs Lobby, Scottish Parliament, Edinburgh

Dates
20-24 September 2010

Fringe Show – Lauded by the List

Rhythm of the Drums: Song of the Cicada is described by the List as a `series of virtuoso displays, infectiously enjoyable` and is awarded three stars for the show which closes this Sunday 22 August.

Audiences have grown throughout the run thanks mainly to word of mouth and with only a few lunchtime shows (13.40-14.40) left till the run ends on 22 August make sure you find a slot to enjoy the exuberant drumming, dramatic dance, heartfelt singing, and glorious ethnic costumes in this spectacular show. From the Wood Drum Dance of the Miao people – known as ‘oriental disco’ for its frenetic movements – to the ethereal beauty of the love songs of the Dongzu, the ensemble, wearing stunning headdresses, amazing silver jewellery and playing ethnic instruments will enthral, delight and reveal the rich cultural heritage practiced even today in their remote mountain homes in southwest China.

For full details please visit our microsite

The Politics of Multiculturalism in Taiwan – June 2010

Friday 4th June at 6pm will see this topic being addressed by widely published Mau-kuei Chang, research fellow of the Institute of Sociology, Academia Sinica, and adjunct Professor of the Department of Sociology, Taiwan University.

On considering the question ‘Is Taiwan a multicultural country? Is multiculturalism an official position of the country?’ the answer must be ‘yes’. Not only do both the DPP and the KMT parties mention multiculturalism in revision articles of the Constitution (1996), but also it has become a “must learn” subject in the high school curriculum since 2006. How has this development come about? How do we make sense of this in Taiwan where politics are always about “unified” and one nation-ness? And, what does this term mean for the general public?

Chang will address this with a quick sketch of different political discourses on nationhood, on people, on difference and on civil rights since 1970’s and examine how these diverse discourses somehow suddenly converge on a very vague, little understood notion of multiculturalism, which in reality and through institutional arrangements affect the daily lives of the people.

Mau-kuei Chan received his PhD sociology degree from Purdue University and has visited U.C. Berkeley and McGill University as Fulbright and exchange scholar. His research and teaching interests include social movement studies, identity politics, and ethnicity and nationalism. He is widely published in both English and Chinese with his most recent being an edited volume titled “Nation and Identity, ideas of some Waishengren” (2010).

Date: Friday 4 June
Time: 6pm-7.30pm followed by a drinks reception

This event is free. To reserve a seat for this talk please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk or call 0131 662 2180.

Win trip to Shanghai-closing date 31 July

Borrow a book from the Confucius Institute`s `Window of Shanghai` section in our library and you could win a trip to this year`s Expo City. To enter the competition simply write a piece of between 1500-5000 words in English or 1000-3000 words in Chinese as a book review, or an essay on your personal musings as stimulated by the book selection.

T&Cs

All entries should be completed and submitted by July 31, 2010.
All entries should be submitted in word format and to be emailed to dnli@libnet.sh.cn or sent on CD-ROM to

Ms Dennie Lee
Shanghai Library Competition
Room 1310
1555 Huai Hai Zhong Lu
200031, Shanghai, China

All writing must be original and no liability is accepted by the organisers for any infringement of copyright or IPR.

SELECTION PROCESS

A total of 20 top entries will be selected by a panel of professional judges. The result will be notified in August 2010.

AWARDS

The first place prizewinner and three second place entrants will each be invited to an award ceremony in Shanghai. The airline and accommodation costs will be covered by the organisers.

The additional 16 finalists will each receive gift with a value of US$100.

ACCESS TO THE LIBRARY

Please contact the Confucius Institute on 0131 662 2180 or email us on info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk to request access and borrowing rights to the library.

Urban Utopia and Contemporary Visual Arts in China – June 2010

Given the speed of development in China it is hardly suprising that the idea of a city constructed in the blink of the eye is central to recent Chinese visual arts.

The instant city is visually represented by miniature models and computerized simulations. The extensive use of architectural modelling -in the media, on the theatre stage, and on the screen – is a symptom of the neoliberal state`s need to reify its vision in idealized form.

In response, some filmmakers have turned to preserving the present condition of cities in images. Others go beyond using new media to propose to propose a post-cinematic and post-spatial understanding of the city.

The Confucius Institute for Scotland is delighted to present a lecture by Professor Yomi Braester, Professor of Comparative Literature and a core member of the the Cinema Studies Program at the University of Washington in Seattle. He has published extensively on film, drama, and fiction in the PRC and Taiwan and is the author of `Witness against History: Literature, Film, and Public Discourse in Twentieth-Century China` (2003) and `Painting the City Red: Chinese Cinema and the Urban Contract` (2010).

LECTURE DETAILS

Urban Utopia and Contemporary Visual Arts in China
Monday 7th June 2010
6.30pm-7.30pm
Ground Floor, Abden House

Followed by a drinks reception

This event is free. To reserve a seat for this talk please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk or call 0131 662 2180.

Learn to play Yang Ch`in – July 2010

Discover the music that can be made on the beautiful Yang Ch’in (Chinese Hammered Dulcimer) with our summer school workshop programme offering four hours of tuition and up to four hours for self practice.

Yang Ch’in playing is melodic, rhythmical and melodious. It is a key instrument within a Chinese orchestra. The instrument is portable and can be played initially without the need to read music.

Led by Kimho Ip, Yang Ch`in performer and musical curator at the Institute, workshop sessions take place on Saturday 24th and Saturday 31st July from 10am-noon.

At the first workshop you will learn the structure of the instrument, the technique of using the ‘hammers’ and begin to create pentatonic chord patterns to delight the ears.

Between the two workshops, you can book up to four hours for self-practice time at the Institute. This will allow you to practice the technique of using the hammers and will help extend your knowledge and confidence before returning to work again with Kimho for the second workshop. Practice times can be booked Monday – Friday between 09.30 and 16.30.

In the second workshop participants will learn to play up to three traditional Chinese tunes as a group. This session will also introduce basic knowledge required to maintain of the instrument including tuning, changing keys etc.

And, should you have fallen under the spell of the Yang Ch`in, advice on purchasing a suitable instrument is also available. Prices start from around £400 including delivery.

The cost of the course is £125 for four hours of tuition and up to four hours of self practice. Classes are restricted to a maximum of six students. The ratio of instruments to students is 1:2.

To register,please download, complete and return the PDF registration form form along with payment made out to the University of Edinburgh. If you have any questions please contact us on 0131 662 2180.

PDF Registration Form

Calling young leaders: UK-China 400

If you are a young leader age 18-30 working, volunteering, or with a personal commitment on the environment and healthy living, you may be eligible for a life-changing visit to China.

The hunt is on to find young leaders to take part in a exchange visit from the UK to China. If you want to review issues affecting the debate on the environment, the health of future generations, and the material heritage of our culture, read on to find out how to take part in a leadership exchange with China.

Organised by the British Council, in agreement with the All China Youth Federation, this initiative is part of a major UK-China exchange programme first announced in February 2008 to see 400 young people from both countries undertake a 10/12-day exchange over a two-year period. This year from 20 June to 1 July the last group of 100 will head to China.

During their visit applicants selected for their leadership qualities, will meet with leaders, experts and practitioners in the area of environment and healthy living to further develop their understanding and skills. The programme will most likely be based in Beijing and at least one other Province.

The deadline for application is 10 May 2010. Successful applicants are expected to contribute £300 towards the trip. There will be a briefing day in London on either Wednesday 2 June / Thursday 3 June 2010.

The deadline for application is 10 May 2010. Successful applicants are expected to contribute £300 towards the trip. There will be a briefing day in London on either Wednesday 2 June / Thursday 3 June 2010.

UK-China 400 is the result of an agreement made between Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Premier Wen Jiabao in January 2008. The programme aims to strengthen understanding and levels of trust between people in the UK and China whilst developing existing and new district links as well as broadening the international perspective of young people.

Links with China take root

A tree planting ceremony of a Chinese maple donated by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh took place at the Confucius Institute prior to the spring Advisory Board meeting.

L to R: Mme Tan Xiutian, Chinese Consul General; Prof Steve Blackmore, Regius Keeper, RBGE; Principal Prof Sir Timothy O` Shea, Vice Chancellor, University of Edinburgh; Minister Counsellor Tian, Chinese Embassy; Prof Natascha Gentz, Director, Confucius Institute for Scotland.
L to R: Mme Tan Xiutian, Chinese Consul General; Prof Steve Blackmore, Regius Keeper, RBGE; Principal Prof Sir Timothy O` Shea, Vice Chancellor, University of Edinburgh; Minister Counsellor Tian, Chinese Embassy; Prof Natascha Gentz, Director, Confucius Institute for Scotland.

The tree has been grown from a seed brought back from China by Regius Keeper of RBGE, Steve Blackmore. The RBGE has a long history with China which began in 1904 when George Forrest, known as the Indiana Jones of the plant world undertook the first of seven expeditions to China to collect and introduce back to the UK species such rhododendrons, primulas, magnolias, gentians, meconopsis and lilies.

This young tree serves as a symbol of the links between the two organisations as well as a visible and growing sign of the links between Scotland and China.

Travellers and Oasis – March 2010

Tickets are now on sale for this unique concert taking place at `teatime` in the magnificent McEwan Hall on Sunday 14 March.

Following last year`s sell out concert from iMAP Ensemble at Abden House, the Institute is sponsoring this unique concert which will see musicians from China, Thailand, Holland and the UK perform specially composed music exploring the universal themes of travelling and oasis.

Under the artistic direction of Kimho Ip, with special guest, John Kitchen, McEwan Hall organist, audience members will hear yangchin, saxophone, cello and a variety of ethnic instruments. With specially created accompanying video footage, a short community artist spot,this early evening concert will open your ears and eyes with unique combinations of beautiful music.

VENUE: McEwan Hall
DATE : Sunday 14 March
TIME : 5pm-6.15pm
PRICE: £10 (£6) and family (£26)

Hub box office online
or call 0131 473 2000

Tickets on sale at door 30 minutes before the performance.

CONFIRMED PERFORMERS
Filip Davidse, soprano saxophone
Sam Glazer, cello
June Chan, cello
Louise Martin, cello
Kimho Ip, yangchin
John Kitchen, organ

Videos by Anothai Nitibhon, video artist
Production Manager, Martin Palmer

Guest Lecture: The Complexity of Difference – March 2010

Zhang Longxi, City University of Hong Kong gave a talk on Monday 22 March at 6pm in the Confucius Institute for Scotland. A podcast of this talk will be added soon.

His topic was The Complexity of Difference: A Methodological Issue in Cross-Cultural Studies.

ABSTRACT

Difference is a basic fact in life and in our understanding of life, as people are all different as individuals and as social groups and communities. In humanities and social sciences, however, differences are often ignored on the individual level, while emphasized on the collective level. This is particularly true in understanding different cultures. By examining some recent works in East-West cross-cultural studies, Zhang will argue that we should pay attention to the complexity of difference and what Geoffrey Lloyd calls the “multidimensionality” of things so as to avoid the mistake of subsuming individual differences under collective categories, and to go beyond the simplistic claims of universalism as well as the relativist dilemma of cultural incommensurability.

PROFILE

Zhang Longxi is Chair Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation at City University of Hong Kong and Foreign Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities.

ZHANG Longxi holds an MA from Peking University and a Ph.D. from Harvard. He taught at the University of California, Riverside, before moving to City University of Hong Kong, where he is currently Chair Professor of Comparative Literature and Translation.

His research area is East-West comparative studies, and his major book publications include `The Tao and the Logos: Literary Hermeneutics, East and West` (Duke University Press, 1992), which won honorable mention for the Joseph Levinson Book Prize; `Mighty Opposites: From Dichotomies to Differences in the Comparative Study of China` (Stanford University Press, 1998); `Allegoresis: Reading Canonical Literature East and West` (Cornell University Press, 2005); `Unexpected Affinities: Reading across Cultures` (University of Toronto Press, 2007), and most recently, 《比較文學研究入門》[`An Introduction to Comparative Literature`] (in Chinese, Fudan University Press, 2008).

He was elected a foreign member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Letters, History and Antiquities in 2009.

Booking is not essential but an advisory email or phone call to help us with planning is appreciated. Please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk or call 0131 662 2180.

Guest Lecture: Music Taipei v Music Shanghai – March 2010

Event Date: 18/03/2010

Professor Shen Tung of National Taiwan University will present a talk entitled Music Taipei vs. Music Shanghai: A Historic Overview of the Dissemination of Chinese Opera and Popular Songs from Shanghai to Taipei in the 20th Century.

This event will take place in the Confucius Institute starting at 6pm. Places are free but should be booked by email to info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk or by phone to 0131 662 2180

Scholarships to China – deadline 30 March

Scholarships to China focusing on are on offer from the Confucius Institute Headquarters to enable those studying and/or teaching Chinese as a second language, to have the chance to study Chinese language and culture in China.

A number of scholarships focusing on Literature, Education, History and Chinese Traditional Medicine lasting between one semester and two years are available under this programme from the Confucius Institute Headquarters.

These scholarship are offered to enable those studying and/or teaching Chinese as a second language to have the chance to study in China for a period of one semester, one year or even for a full two year Masters course.

The application procedure is set out in the PDF attached here.

Application forms can be found on this website page.

The deadline for receipt of completed applications is Tuesday 30 March. Please feel free to contact us for an initial discussion or if you have any questions.

Chinese Bridge – Competition

For the opportunity to win a trip to China and other amazing prizes read on to discover more about this global language and cultural competition.

Since its launch in 2002 over 50,000 students from 59 countries have participated and almost 600 students have been invited to China to attend the semi-finals and finals.

In addition to testing language proficiency, the competition test knowledge of China, cultural skills and understanding. There is huge scope to demonstrate cultural skills and understanding through e.g. Kongfu, Taichi, calligraphy, music, paper-cutting etc. As well as Grand First, Second and Third prizes there are a number of special awards for individuals such as Best Presentation, Best Performance, Best Eloquence, Best Tutor etc.

Those preliminary contest winners are invited to the finals in China and will have a very good chance to win a scholarship to further their Chinese studies in China.

The 9th `Chinese Bridge` competition will take place in London on Saturday 13th March 2010. For more info please visit the Chinese Bridge website

China Inside-Out – March 2010

An innovative creative writing conference will take place in early March with options to attend some or all of the varied event programme.

Organised by the Confucius Institute in conjuntion with Scottish PEN this three day event brings together Chinese women writing fiction, non-fiction and poetry in English with Scottish women writers. Opening with a keynote public lecture on Thursday 11 March in the Playfair Library and two days of events at Abden House on 12 and 13 March booking is now available. For full details please visit our micro-site, www.confuciusinstitute.ac.uk/china-inside-out