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100 Full Scholarships to China offered

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30 March is the deadline set for submission of applications for full scholarships to China for the academic year 2008-09. Scholarships are available to non Chinese speakers as well as those who have some ability in Mandarin.

This comprehensive programme invites applications in all disciplines and at various levels. This is the second year of the Chinese Government Scholarship Programme (EU Window). The application process is straightforward but will take some time to prepare.

Young people between 18 and 35 (including 18 and 35) from EU countries with senior high school diploma and above are welcome to apply for this programme.

100 events and counting!- February – March 2008

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The work of the Confucius Institute for Scotland in coordinating the year long festival China Now in Scotland is about to become visible!

With over 100 separate events already in place for the 2008 China Now in Scotland celebrations, work is underway on the new website which will feature all events taking place under this umbrella festival.

Opening later this month the website will enable visitors to find out what is happening on a daily basis. In addition, the site will feature free downloads, regular competitions and will allow event organisers to submit their own events for inclusion in the China Now in Scotland programme for 2008.

The year begins with Chinese Community Celebrations taking place from early February as the official date of Chinese New Year, 07 Feb 2008,Year of the Rat approaches. The main programme is launched at Spirit-Chinese Spring Lantern Festival taking place at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh from 22 February for three weeks.

The Institute staff has been working to secure interest and participation from a range of event organisers but there is always room for more!

Confucius Institute for Scotland gains chart success

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Despite its relative youth the Confucius Institute for Scotland has been judged to be in the top twenty of over 200 Confucius Institutes worldwide.

At a ceremony next week to be held in the Great Hall of the People, Tiananmen Square, Beijing the Confucius Institute for Scotland will be recognised by Hanban, the Office of Chinese Language Council International, as being one of the top twenty in the world. Professor Natascha Gentz, director of the Confucius Institute for Scotland, will receive a trophy marking the success of the Institute.

Open Evening at the Confucius Institute – December 2007

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Come along on Friday 7 December 1800-2000 to participate in our taster language and cultural classes.

Our Open Evening gives you the opportunity to make your New Year resolution in December. Sample a Chinese language lesson, try your hand at calligraphy and enjoy some Chinese music and cultural insights.

With the China Now in Scotland festival taking place next year in the run up to and beyond the Beijing Olympics 2008 is an ideal time to discover China, right here in Scotland.

With classes already filling up for next term which starts Monday 14 January come along and learn about China at the Confucius Institute for Scotland.

Call us on 0131 662 2180 or simply drop in on Friday 7 December between 6pm and 8pm.

Chinese Ambassador visits Confucius Institute

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Following a lecture at the Playfair Library, Mme Fu Ying toured the new headquarters of the Confucius Institute for Scotland.

Her Excellency Mme. Fu Ying, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People`s Republic of China to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, spent the day at the University of Edinburgh where she had a number of meetings with the Principal and key staff. Her lecture on the theme of `Educational Co-operation between China and Great Britain` was received with interest and great attention by the invited audience.

Mme Fu had a number of meetings throughout the day and finished her visit with a tour of the Confucius Institute.

Lufthansa offers complimentary tickets to support festival

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Airline offers complimentary tickets to support festival.

Lufthansa logo

Lufthansa German Airlines which flies daily to China from Scotland via Frankfurt has signed up as official airline sponsor for China Now in Scotland. A number of event providers will benefit from Lufthansa`s sponsorship which will enable Chinese artists to participate in a number of activities being planned for the China Now in Scotland festival.

Hanban Director and Delegation visit to Confucius Institute for Scotland

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A high level delegation, led by Mme Xu Lin, Director General of Hanban, visited Abden House on Wed 24 October.

Mme Xu was warmly welcomed to the Institute by the Principal, Professor Timothy O`Shea. The group were given a tour of the building before Professor Natascha Gentz, Director of the Confucius Institute for Scotland gave a presentation on the current activities of the newly opened Institute.

Hanban Director and Delegation visit to Confucius Institute for Scotland
Hanban Director and Delegation visit to Confucius Institute for Scotland

 

First Minister unveils a bright future

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The official opening of the Confucius Institute for Scotland by Alex Salmond, Scotland`s First Minister saw invited guests and members of the press attend an unveiling ceremony at Abden House.

The official opening of the Confucius Institute for Scotland by Alex Salmond, Scotland`s First Minister saw invited guests and members of the press attend an unveiling ceremony at Abden House.

On arrival the First Minister was `introduced` to Confucius, a beautiful bronze bust, gifted to the Institute by Hanban, sponsors of the Confucius Institute. Principal Timothy O`Shea welcomed the First Minister and Minister Counsellor Wang from the Chinese Embassy to the Institute along with other special guests including senior representation from Fudan University, the Chinese Consul General and a 12-strong delegation from Zhuhai Province.

Having formally opened the Institute and launched China Now in Scotland, the First Minister then unveiled a 2 metre high statue of Huang Kuan, the first Chinese graduate of any European university, who achieved his doctorate in medicine at the University of Edinburgh, 150 years ago.
This statue was donated by the city of Zhuhai Province in Guangdong province from where Huang Kuan originated.

With the official proceedings at an end, the First Minister led the way in signing a commemorative scroll under the tutorship of Mme Szeto, calligraphy teacher at the Institute.

Many thanks go to all staff, students, volunteers and guests whose support and presence ensured the launch activities were successful.

Guest Speaker Events – October 2007

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Mid-October will see two special evening events taking place.

On Thursday 18 October in Lecture Room 4 of the Appleton Tower, University of Edinburgh, George Square, Edinburgh a lecture will be delivered by Dr Boy Luethje of the Frankfurt Institute for Social Research. The topic is “Behind the China Price: Capitalist Transformation, Work & Trade Unions in China”.

A massive shift in economic power is under way with China leading the world in manufacturing and export and with prices that undercut all competitors. But for the workers, what is the real cost of the Chinese economy ?

A discussion following the presentation will be chaired by Dr Gentz, Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Edinburgh.

This event will start at 17:30 and is scheduled to finish at 19:00.

Dr Luethje has taught in Germany, the USA and Hawaii and since 2004 has been a Senior Lecturer at the Franfurt School of Social Research. His research interests include political economy of production and innovation, international division of labour, and industrial relations.
He is also a Labour educator for German unions in the information and communications industry.

The second event will take place on Friday 19 October. Entitled `Our History is Still Being Written` the evening will provide some fascinating cross-cultural history focusing as it does on the story of three Chinese -Cuban generals in the Cuban Revolution. Please see the PDF for full details.

Music & Calligraphy workshops

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Taster workshops offered at the Confucius Institute. 

In October four taster sessions designed to illustrate the relationship between music and calligraphy will run at the Confucius Institute for Scotland.

Led by Kimho Ip and Mme Szeto each workshop will last for 2 hours. Priced at only £25 per person a maximum of eight places are offered on each date. Each workshop will run from 14.00-16.00 on Monday afternoons.

You can reserve a place on a Taster Workshops on either Monday 1st, Monday 8th, Monday 22nd or Monday 29th. In the first instance simply call us on 0131 662 2180 to reserve a place.

In November a maximum of four places are available for a three week programme of two hour workshops running Monday 5th, 12th and 19th November. The cost for the November Workshop series is £240 inclusive of all materials.

All workshops are hands-on and students will be able to take their finished work away. Places are limited so please register now.

Open Day at the Confucius Institute – September 2007

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Wednesday 19 September will see the Confucius Institute for Scotland hold an Open Day.

From 11am-7pm the team will be ready to welcome you to the Institute where in a short visit you will be able to try to learn a little Chinese, review course materials and check out the facilities we have to offer. In addition to the language and cultural programme presentations the Open Day will give you the chance to watch (and perhaps imitate) a maestro at work on the Yangqin, the beautiful Chinese hammered dulcimer. You will also be able to watch a film, and perhaps try your hand at calligraphy.

This is a great opportunity to find out more about the various programmes on offer, meet the Institute staff, tour public areas of the building, and view the gardens. We hope you will come along and to help us ensure we can welcome you appropriately we would encourage you to pre-register if at all possible. Simply download the enrolment form and email, fax or post this back.

Alternatively give us a call on 0131 662 2180 Failing which, please just come along!

This Open Day will take place prior to the official launch and opening activities planned for late September. Be among the first to know…Book now!

Download Enrolment Form

China Now in Scotland Advisory group meets to plan preview launch – August 2008

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On Tuesday 28 August the hardworking China Now in Scotland Advisory Group met at Abden House to finalise plans for the preview launch of this festival which will go live in February 2008. The festival will feature a varied and ever growing programme spanning education, culture, sports, science and business. While the majority of events are taking place in the Central Belt, programme planning is underway Orkney, Aberdeen, Perth, Kinross and points south and west.

A preview launch for China Now in Scotland will take place in late September following which the website will open. This will provide information about events across the country and also advise event organisers how to get involved.

August 20: Professor Frank Larkins, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), The University of Melbourne visited the Confucius Institute

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August 20 Professor Frank Larkins, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International), The University of Melbourne visited the Confucius Institute on 20 August for discussions with Professor Natascha Gentz, Director of the Confucius Institute. The University of Melbourne is a member of the worldwide network of Confucius Institutes.

Confucius Institute settles into Abden House

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Three months after opening interim offices within the University of Edinburgh central campus, the Confucius Institute for Scotland today moved to its permanent headquarters, Abden House.

The refurbishment work co-ordinated by the Estates and Buildings department within the University of Edinburgh, was part sponsored by the Scottish Executive. The work carried out to the upper floors has created a superb contemporary teaching and learning environment.

Timetabled classes at Abden House will start in October 2007 prior to which there will be a number of `taster` events to introduce the Institute and its activities to businesses and the interested public.

Teach Chinese in Scottish Schools – official qualification now available

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For the first time in Scotland, in 2009, the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education is pleased to offer a PGDE in Chinese/Mandarin.

This course has come about through co-operation between the Moray House School of Education, the Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh, the Scotland-China Education Network (SCEN) and the Scottish Executive.

This year places are available for 5 students.  If you are interested in taking a PGDE certificate please visit Morayhouse College of Education’s website page on this topic.

 

Delegation visit from Vice-Minister of Education in China

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The Confucius Institute for Scotland hosted a high level delegation visit led by Mme Wu Qidi, Vice-Minister of Education in China.

The visit gave the party the opportunity to tour the newly refurbished Confucius Institute for Scotland prior to the discussions on higher education issues and opportunities.

Delegation details

    • Mme Wu Qidi
      Vice-Minister of Education of China. 
    • Mr. Wang Yongda,
      Minister Counsellor
    • Mr. Chang Quansheng,
      Education Section, Chinese Embassy UK
    • Mr. Guo Lixin
      Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Education, China
    • Mr. Niu Yanbing
      Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Education ,China
    • Mr. Jiang Feng
      Deputy Director-General, International Cooperation and
      Exchanges, China
    • Ms Zhang Jin
      Deputy Director, Division of European Affairs, China
  • Ms Lin Xiaoqing
    Secretary to the Vice Minister

Cinema China 2007

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Cinema China 2007 celebrated Chinese cinema covering eight decades of Chinese movie-making in 26 films and drawing audiences of over 5000 during one intensive weekend in the Edinburgh Filmhouse.

Cinema China presented a unique insight into eight decades of Chinese film making. Launched at Edinburgh Castle with Maggie Cheung, Chinese cinema’s leading lady in attendance, a total of 26 classic movies were shown in venues across Scotland.The programme then toured to 20 other cinemas in the UK.

This event was a partnership in which the Confucius Institute for Scotland worked with Mark Cousins, former director of Edinburgh’s Film Festival, the University of Edinburgh’s own film studies department and Beijing Film Academy.

In addition to a workshop with Maggie Cheung, Chinese cinema’s leading lady, and a masterclass from world famous director Xie Fe, the Institute also arranged a complementary programme of 15 lectures on Chinese cinema and a schools’ educational programme.

The origins of the Cinema China event stemmed from an agreement between the University of Edinburgh and the Beijing Film Academy. The support and commitment of individuals and organisations took the original concept and developed it into the largest celebration of Chinese cinema in the UK to that date.

Read the full story of Cinema China’s evolution and programme.

Refurbishment of Abden House

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Work began on the refurbishment of Abden House, a baronial mansion located at the foot of Arthur’s Seat, the famous extinct volcano in the city of Edinburgh.

Confucius Institute for Scotland announced in Beijing

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The plan to establish the Confucius Institute for Scotland was first announced in Beijing on March 21 2005 by the then First Minister, Jack McConnell. The Confucius Institute network is an initiative of the National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, a branch of the Ministry of Education in China.