Author: admin

China Quick-Fix Talk 19 Jan 2017 18.00 – Dr Bill Aitchison

Posted on

Join us for this talk which considers a less visible aspect of China’s development. China Quick-Fix is a talk and slide show that offers a special opportunity to see a less well known side of China up close and in the company of artist Bill Aitchison.

Bill Aitchison has spent the last three years in China taking pictures of the sometimes ingenious, sometimes ramshackle, improvised repairs that are a feature of the Chinese urban landscape. He will provide insightful commentary which, starting from these humble quick-fixes using plastic bottles, coat hangers and pieces of cardboard, opens up into a discussion of contemporary China which connects documentary photography to craft techniques, generational politics, decision making processes, the status of public space, wealth distribution and recycling, to name but a few of the directions it shoots out in. Sympathetic to the creativity of quick-fixes, this talk is balanced between identifying positive features in them while never forgetting the problems that necessitate them in the first place.

The event will conclude with questions and discussion.

Bill Aitchison

Bill Aitchison is an inter-disciplinary artist who divides his time between China and the UK. He has presented his performances, soundworks and videos in galleries, theatres and festivals in Europe, Asia, America, Australia and The Middle East. He holds a practice-based PhD from Goldsmiths College, has published critical, creative and journalistic texts in several countries, made several works for radio, regularly mentors creative projects and is currently setting up a performance studies strand at Nanjing University.

Where and When

This talk will take place on Thursday 19th January 2017 in the Project Room, 50 George Square, Edinburgh from 6pm.  A drinks reception will follow. 

Registration is required. Please book via this Eventbrite link

Chinese Language Classes – open for booking

Posted on

We offer a diverse programme of evening classes for the general public to enjoy learning Chinese. Our Winter term courses as listed below are now available for online booking. All classes will start week beginning 23 January 2017 and run for 10 weeks ending in the last week of March 2017.

All classes take place on the Confucius Institute for Scotland Campus. You can download a map showing the campus layout here – Conf-campus-map

LANGUAGE CLASSES January-March 2017

Course bookings for the winter term are now open. If you have some previous learning and have not yet started classes with us please get in touch and we can arrange an assessment to ensure you are placed in the most suitable class. For this, or any other questions please email info@confuciusinstitute.ac.uk. You can also call us on 0131 662 2180. Otherwise please see below for the class timetable and click through to book.

CLass level Code Day(s) Dates-
all 2017		 Time Full Price / Student
Chinese 1.1 CH040-221 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH040-222 Tuesday 24 Jan – 28 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH040-223 Wednesday 25 Jan – 29 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH040-224 Thursday 26 Jan – 30 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 1.2 CH044-219 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH044-220 Tuesday 24 Jan – 28 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH044-221 Wednesday 25 Jan – 29 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 1.3 CH046-209 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 2.1 CH041-208 Thursday 26 Jan – 30 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 2.2 CH037-207 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
CH037-208 Wednesday 25 Jan – 29 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 2.3 CH011-206 Thursday 26 Jan – 30 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 3.1 CH045-206 Wednesday 25 Jan – 29 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 3.2 CH036-207 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 3.3 CH012-205 Monday 23 Jan – 27 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 4.2 CH013-206
 Thursday 26 Jan – 30 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 5.1 CH009-204 Tuesday 24 Jan – 28 March 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese 5.3 CH016-202 Tuesday 24 Jan – 28 Marc 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87
Chinese Advanced CH002-204 Monday 26 Sept-28 Nov 6.00-8.00pm £130/£87

An absolute beginner can join us at the start of each term. Any student who has some previous experience in learning the language is welcome to contact us and arrange to drop in for an initial assessment to help determine which class would best suit.

Classes run for two hours on the same evening for a ten week term. After three terms most students are ready to move to the next level. No assessment is carried out but students are encouraged to test their developing skills by sitting the globally run HSK test.

Excellence in teaching is paramount. Our teachers are seconded from Fudan University which regularly send us experienced senior teachers and a number of Masters candidates in Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages. You can see the profiles of our current and previous teachers by clicking here.

English Language Assistant-Opportunities in China

Posted on

eenglish language assistantDiscover what China has to offer through a paid English language teaching placement.  A number of new posts for graduates to work as language assistants in schools across China are on offer for 2017 from British Council.

Working as a language assistant gives you the chance to discover another culture and develop invaluable, transferable skills for the workplace. Plus you get paid!

Salary and Benefits

As a British Council language assistant in China, you can expect to be paid a comfortable salary every month. Your accommodation will be arranged for you, flights are paid and there are no programme fees to pay.  British Council offers:

  • A pre-departure briefing day
  • A free 60 hour online TEFL course
  • Accommodation throughout your contract
  • A salary of 4000-13000 RMB per month depending on location

What you’ll get

city scene

During your placement in China you will be expected to teach for up to 20 hours per week. In return you will be given:

  • year round support from the British Council with over 35 years experience working in China.
  • on-going support from our partners overseas
  • a two-week induction course when you arrive, including language and culture lessons to help you settle in and meet other language assistants.
  • a free online TEFL course with practical tips to help you succeed in the classroom

Eligibility

You do not need to speak any Chinese but you will be need to be a native speaker of English and have graduated from university by the time you start your placement.

Further Information and Application

The deadline for applications is 28 Feb 2017.  For further information and to apply please visit British Council’s website page on this opportunity

Panoramas and Portraits: 1860’s China

Posted on

The University library has recently carried out an extensive digitisation project of a superb volume of photographs many of which are from Lord Elgin’s 1860’s military campaign in China.  The majority of these images were taken by Felice Beato, the famous war photographer.

tower pre battle

The album from which these images are taken is a large, fairly ornate embossed and gilt-tooled leather bound volume measuring 69cm. It contains 59 images mounted on 56 leaves.

For an introduction to the album, please see the blog written by University volunteer Caitlin Holton. The complete set of digitised images can be seen on the University’s LUNA website at this link.                     

Some photos are captioned.  You can check by viewing a full page image and zoom in by hovering your mouse over the image to bring up the zoom tool then check if there is a caption underneath.

More info

panoramas and portraitsAs well as images recording Lord Elgin’s 1860 military campaign in the Second Opium War, there are landscape views of Honk Kong, Shanghai and Macao.The subject matter also includes studio portraits of Chinese people.

For a fuller annotated description of this album held in the University of Edinburgh and referenced as “China”: RECA.MS.8. please download the album description china_reca-ms-8

There is a list of contents for the album which can be obtained by emailing s-crc@ed.ac.uk. If you have any contributions or information on specific images these would be most welcome.

panoramas and portraits

Additional websites which may be of interest can be found at the links below.

oldchinaphotography.com

http://visualisingchina.net/

Historical Photographs of China

Sydney D. Gamble Photographs

For further information on these images please email is-crc@ed.ac.uk

Chinese Studies Lecture Series 2018

Posted on

The Domestication of Cosmopolitanism in Transnational Chinese Masculinities

Derek Hird (Senior Lecturer in Chinese Studies, Lancaster University)

Tuesday, 25 Sept, 5 – 7 pm, 50 George Square, Project Room (1.06), University of Edinburgh

This talk explores how the impetus of globalization has resulted in the hybridization of Chinese masculinities. As part of a process that Lisa Rofel terms the “domestication of cosmopolitanism”, cosmopolitan desires have become imbricated with other more situated notions and practices of masculinity. Analysis of media representations and interview/ethnographic data reveals four salient trends in the formation of transnational Chinese masculinities: domestication of cosmopolitan and consumerist masculinities within historically embedded discourses; reconciliation of intellectuals with global business masculinities; acceptance of emotionally expressive and caring fatherhood practices; and relative stickiness of hierarchical intimate partner relations. An overarching theme emerges, which is Chinese men’s aspiration to a cosmopolitanism that does not preclude a strong sense of cultural and national Chinese identity. In this talk, I aim to show how Chinese men are forging transnationally inflected identities that draw simultaneously from historical Chinese masculinities and contemporary globally circulating masculinities. In wider perspective, this talk provides a masculinities angle on the fluidity of gender identities and relationships under the socioeconomic conditions of postsocialist China.

Kinky Booties: The Erotics of Shoes in the Ming Novel Jin Ping Mei

Paola Zamperini (Professor, Northwestern University)

Tuesday, 23 Oct, 5 – 7 pm, 50 George Square, Project Room (1.06), University of Edinburgh  

This presentation explores the layers of meaning attached to shoes, sex, sexuality, and the body in the Ming novel Jin Ping Mei (The Plum in the Golden Vase). Shoes in general and female footwear in particular in Plum are integral part of characters’ class, wealth, and sex appeal (or lack thereof), and, as such, are a meaningful site to explore the writing of sex and desire in the world of late imperial Chinese fiction. We will concentrate in particular on one of the three main female protagonists of Plum, Pan Jinlian, whose very name, Pan Golden Lotus, connects her feet first, as it were, into the discourse of sexuality and fashion. Walking in Pan Jinlian’s shoes will, in other words, help us uncover the erotics of shoes, subjectivity, and gender identities in the imaginary of the time.

Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Jinghan Zeng (Senior Lecturer, Royal Holloway, University of London)

Tuesday, 13 Nov, 5 – 7 pm, 50 George Square, Project Room (1.06), University of Edinburgh  

China’s Belt and Road Initiative has been widely interpreted as Beijing’s masterplan to achieve its geopolitical goals. This talk will explain why this view is mistaken. Is Beijing really in charge of the Belt and Road Initiative? Will the Belt and Road Initiative build a Sino-centric world order? How will the Belt and Road Initiative unfold in the nearly future? How should the British government respond to the Belt and Road Initiative? The talk will discuss these questions in details.

All Welcome! No booking is required.

Violence in Upland Southwest China:- Seminar 23 Nov 5pm

Posted on

This seminar on 23 November 17.00-19.00 explores group violence in an area of Southwest China that experienced on-going conflicts between 1800 and the late 1950s involving indigenous Yi (Nuosu) peoples, Chinese settler communities, and the Qing and Republican states.

Population pressure has been blamed by early nineteenth century governors and later scholarship alike, but our speaker argues against this approach and believes neither opium production or the growth of local paramilitary groups were as destabilizing as narratives from the early twentieth century might suggest. Instead, conflict resulted from the lack of a common framework for dealing with property disputes, and also the unanticipated impacts of turmoil elsewhere in China, such as the Taiping War, civil war after the fall of the Qing Empire, World War II, and the Nationalist Party’s war on drugs. Although some of the frameworks for interpreting conflict are unhelpful or misleading, those frameworks exercised a powerful influence on the meanings of violence to locals, which shaped their responses to it.  Locals developed measures to contain conflict, some of which worked. Other methods exacerbated matters and led to the construction of stereotypical views of indigenous violence. In developing these arguments, the speaker integrates this conflict into a world-historical framework, considering points of comparison to other borderlands in nineteenth and twentieth century history.

Seminar Leader

Joseph Lawson is a lecturer in Chinese history at Newcastle University. His first book, Sustaining Violence: Mountain Land, Paramilitary Mobilization, and Otherness in Southwest China, 1800-1956 will be published by University of British Columbia Press in 2017. He is also the editor and main translator of the new English edition of Mao Haijian’s The Qing Empire and the Opium War (Cambridge University Press, 2016).

Essential Information

Wednesday, November 23, 17:00-19:00
David Hume Tower, LG. 06, University of Edinburgh

Inter-Group Violence in Upland Southwest China, 1800-1950s: Causes and Meanings
from
Joseph Lawson, Newcastle University.

 

Chinese Language Lunchbox Sessions 2016 Wed & Thurs

Posted on

Chinese Language Lunchbox （汉语盒饭） is a free, lunch-time language programme which has been specially designed to introduce simple and useful Chinese words and phrases along with some cultural understanding for non-Chinese speakers for the University community.

This semester the Lunchbox Sessions will cover five topics one on each of five different dates. You can book a place on just one or indeed all of the sessions as suits your interests and your diary.

Lunchbox sessions will take place at No 50 George Square Thursdays from 1.05pm to 1.35pm from 2 Nov to 1 Dec.

Topic One: Useful Chinese Expressions – Wed 2 Nov and Thurs 3 Nov

10 short useful Chinese phrases/sentences will be introduced. These expressions can be used on their own or mixed and matched to create an allusion of fluency.

Topic Two: How to introduce yourself in Chinese – Wed 9 Nov and Thurs 10 Nov

The standard short sentence pattern will be taught and you will learn how to introduce yourself when meeting new people using a couple of sentences in Chinese.

Topic Three: How to say Chinese Names – Wed 16 Nov and Thurs 17 Nov

This topic will introduce the structure of Chinese names, common Chinese surnames and their pronunciations. Feel free to bring examples of Chinese names you find difficult to pronounce.

Topic Four: Chinese Numbers – Wed 23 Nov and Thurs 24 Nov

It is easy to count from 1 to 10 in Chinese, but learning how to say bigger numbers in Chinese reveals some Chinese ways of thinking. Come and discover one hundred, a thousand, ten thousand, or even a billion in this Chinese number maze session.

Topic Five: Chinese Character Appetiser – Wed 30 Nov and Thurs 1 Dec

Ten simple Chinese characters will be introduced in this topic using animations and pictures. Participants will learn to recognise these simple characters, their meanings and understand how to write them.

Time: 1.05pm till 1.35pm

Venue: Room 2.30, 50 George Square

How to book?

Bookings can be made via MyEd. Search “Chinese Language Lunchbox” provided by the Confucius Institute for Scotland in the Event Booking section.
Pack your lunch and join us for the Chinese Language Lunchbox!

Deciphering Chinese Characters – short course

Posted on

Want to spend more time on Chinese characters learning? Or perhaps you are finding Chinese characters more challenging?

We are offering a five week course from November which will develop your skills in character recognition. More information is below the timetable.

Class TO SUIT
STUDENTS FROM…		 Day(s) Dates-all 2016 Time Full Price / Student
Chinese Characters  Beginners Wednesday 9,16,23,30 Nov and 7 Dec 2016 6.00-8.00pm £50/£35

Character Class: Registration Form

This class which will help you decrypt Chinese characters both familiar and unfamiliar.  At the end of the five weeks students should:

  • Have understanding of the core elements (radicals) within many characters
  • Be able to recognise up to 200 characters (and write these with practice)
  • Have an understanding of the cultural assumptions which underlie some Chinese characters

In the class you will learn how to write Chinese characters paying attention to the stroke order, formation and radicals, The cultural meaning behind some common characters will also be explained.  The class will run with whole class teaching and individual practice using materials prepared by the teacher, Wu Yuwen.

Wednesdays 6pm-8pm from 9 November till 7 December 2016 inclusive.

Asian Studies Seminar: On Feeding the Masses 12 Oct 5pm

Posted on

This Asian Studies Seminar exploring why China’s food safety system is failing, despite concerted state efforts to reform its regulatory framework will be given by John Yasuda, Assistant Professor from Indiana University’s School of Global and International Studies, Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures.

Seminar

Rather than pointing to lack of state capacity, level of economic development, or corruption, the study seeks to gain analytical leverage from the often cited but understudied notion that China’s scale lies at the core of its governance challenges. In large, heterogeneous polities like China where millions of actors are operating at varying scales or “degrees of zoom” in diverse economic and geographical settings, scale politics are particularly fierce due to evolving social constructs, non-linear dimensions, and scale externalities. Drawing from over 200 interviews with food safety regulators and producers in China’s domestic, export, and organic markets and investigation over a 5 year period, the study seeks to establish new theoretical and empirical ground to explain why China’s fragmented unitary framework is ill-equipped to address its scale politics. Cross-sectoral illustrations in the aviation, fisheries, and environmental sectors in China highlight how scale politics impact many other economic sectors within China; and cross-national comparisons of Europe, India, and the United States suggest that the politics of scale framework may engage debate about contentious policy arenas and regulatory outcomes in the world’s large and complex markets beyond China.

Biography

John Yasuda is an assistant professor in the Department of East Asian Languages & Cultures Indiana University’s School of Global and International Studies (SGIS) specializing in contemporary Chinese politics. Prof. Yasuda’s research includes the study of regulatory reform in developing countries, governance, and the politics of institutional integration. He has published articles in the Journal of Politics, Regulation & Governance, and The China Quarterly. His book, On Feeding the Masses, which examines the political roots of China’s food safety crisis, was recently accepted by Cambridge University Press. Prior to joining SGIS, Prof. Yasuda was post-doctoral fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for the Study of Contemporary China. He received his PhD in Political Science from University of California, Berkeley, an MPhil in Comparative Government at Oxford University, and his BA in Government from Harvard College.

Date: Wed 12 October
Time: 5pm-7pm
Venue: David Hume Tower, LG.11, University of Edinburgh

Business Lecture Patrick Horgan, Rolls-Royce – Podcast

Posted on

For those who missed the excellent talk last month from  Patrick Horgan, OBE, Regional Director, North-East Asia for Rolls-Royce we are pleased to offer you the chance to hear his talk via this podcast.

 

Patrick, a graduate of Oxford University, and a Mandarin speaker with a background which spans business, diplomacy and cultural relations, is Regional Director North-East Asia for Rolls-Royce, covering China, Japan and Korea, based in Beijing.

Patrick Horgan

Previously, he was managing director of an international corporate advisory firm in China, advising leading MNCs on direct investment and on policy issues, both in China and in other Asian emerging markets. Prior to that, Patrick worked at Jardine Matheson in Hong Kong.

In 2007 he was awarded an OBE for services to the British business community in China.  Patrick has also held various external roles and advisory appointments, such as Chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce in China (2004-06), and member of the China Advisory Council for the EU. From 2009-2011 he also served as Counsellor for Education at the British Embassy in Beijing and Director of the British Council’s programmes across Greater China. He is currently Vice President of the European Chamber of Commerce in China.

Originally from South West Scotland Patrick first went to China to live and work in 1989. He lives in Beijing with his wife and three children.

Patrick’s  talk is entitled:”What next for international investment in China, and Chinese investment in Europe? Personal reflections and the story of Rolls-Royce in China.”

This will take place on Thursday 27th October from 6pm in the Royal College of Surgeon’s King Khalid Auditorium which can be accessed directly from Hill Square.  Please book here via Eventbrite.

We are delighted that our partner for this talk is the China Britain Business Council.

For a record of all speakers who have appeared in the Institute’s Business Lecture Series please click here.

Cabinet Secretary visits Confucius Campus

Posted on

Institute Director, Professor Natascha Gentz was delighted to welcome Fiona Hyslop, Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs to the Confucius Campus for a meeting attended also by Vice Principal Professor Charlie Jeffrey along with co-director Dr Jin Ri.

The opportunity to show her around the recently expanded facilities just three days after the campus’s new buildings were officially opened was appreciated and Ms Hyslop enjoyed the chance to get hands on with some of the Institute’s musical instrument collection.

The Institute has recently been selected as a Cultural Pilot Institute to work with a new Cultural Division within Hanban. The opportunity to build stronger and more meaningful cultural engagement between Scotland and China is welcomed by the Scottish Government which last year renewed its Cultural Memorandum of Understanding with China.

Fiona Hyslop

Fiona Hyslop

Award Winning Chinese Choir Tues 4th Oct 7.30pm

Posted on

As part of the celebrations for our 10th Anniversary, our Institute is delighted to host an award-winning Student Choir from Nankai University on Tuesday 4th Oct 2016 at 7.30 in the lovely surroundings of Nicholson Square Methodist Church.

Having performed at top concert venues around the world, the  choir will offer a diverse repertoire of Chinese and Chinese minority folk classics.

Award Winning Chinese Choir

Founded in 1995, the Student Choir of Nankai University is composed of undergraduate students, postgraduate students and international students. Nankai University has a prestigious choral tradition dating back to the 1930s and the University Choir regularly win various major international choral awards, including the highest award at the Fourth International Choral Festival in 1998, three gold medals at the Third World Olympic Choral Competition in Bremen, Germany and top prizes at the First and Second National College Student Performance Festivals in China.  In 2009, the Student Choir performed on the stage of China’s National Grand Theatre, representing the highest honour of national recognition in China.

Tickets for this concert which is free can be booked via here via Eventbrite.

Welcome to the expanded Confucius Campus

Posted on

On Monday 19th Sept the Institute celebrated its 10th Anniversary and the award of Model Institute status with the official opening of two additional buildings creating the first Confucius Campus in the world – download our campus map.

The New Buildings

Located only a few hundred metres from Abden House, home of the Confucius Institute for Scotland since it launched, the two additional buildings at nos 79 & 81 Dalkeith Road previously operated as University nursery premises. The £1million development increases capacity at the Institute with an additional six teaching and study rooms as well as a specialist library for students undertaking postgraduate Chinese Studies courses and evening classes. Download the campus-map here.

Model Confucius Institute

A day long programme of events marked this anniversary which saw the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Timothy O’Shea  unveil a Model Institute Award Plaque with Ma Jian Fe, Deputy Director of Hanban.This was followed by the traditional ribbon cutting ceremony with a number of presidents of  Chinese and European partner universities.

Witnessed by 120 guests the morning events also included a keynote speech by Chen Liming, Chairman of IBM, Greater China – a visiting professor at the University – and the signing of a number of Memorandum of Understanding.

The Open House Afternoon programme gave staff, students and the general public the opportunity to tour the campus buildings where language tasters, calligraphy workshops, and musical instruments were all on offer along with Tai Chi, Chinese teas and delicious Chinese dumplings.  Visitors ranged across the age groups and nationalities and the lovely Panda mascots were a hit with everyone.

The event concluded with a celebratory dinner at the Playfair Library with cultural interludes including a mini-fashion show of Qipao from our new partner Donghua University’s College of Fashion and Innovation.  Guests also enjoyed watching Institute calligrapher, Chi Zhang, create a calligraphy poem to specially composed music from Hugh MacKay on the cello. The short video of rehearsal and performanc Warriors! brought youthful energy into the room before guests were invited into Old College Quad for a beating the retreat finale.

The University of Edinburgh’s Confucius Institute for Scotland has developed a strong reputation, introducing people to the Chinese language, advising Scottish companies seeking to do business in China and staging award-winning cultural events.

Professor Natascha Gentz, Chair of Chinese Studies at the University and Director of the Institute, said: “The past 10 years has been a period of considerable achievement, with the Institute helping to foster closer links between people in Scotland and China. This major investment will support our provision of post-graduate programmes and our aim of extending our range of activities. A key strand will be to work more closely with local schools, enabling children to learn a new language and discover more about Chinese culture.This is an important time in the life of the Institute and we look forward with confidence to the next 10 years.”

Writer in Residence Agreement – Beijing Publishing Group

Posted on

A 15 strong delegation from Beijing Publishing Group visited the Confucius Institute for Scotland earlier this month to sign an agreement which will see upcoming and well known Chinese authors visit Edinburgh to spend a period of time as a Writer in Residence in the city of Edinburgh.The delegation visited the Institute after attending the London Book Fair and brought with them a donation of 500 books which are now housed in the Institute.

With a 60 year history  Beijing Publishing Group Co. Ltd is now a large cultural enterprise with eight professional publishing houses, five magazines and fourteen subsidiaries. Two of the publishing houses focus on Chinese literary publishing and in 2015 the October College of Arts was established from where this initiative has been launched.  Each writer selected as a Writer in Residence will have the opportunity to spend time in Edinburgh and environs. The Institute will arrange public event(s) for the writer appropriate to the profile and interests of the individual.

Beijing Publishing Group

Open House at the Confucius Campus 19 Sept: Free Shuttle Service

Posted on

CATCH THE Complimentary Shuttle service!

A shuttle minibus service will run from outside the University Gift Shop to the Confucius Campus every 15 minutes from 2.15pm till 4pm.  A return service will run from 3pm till 5pm.  Please wait by the lampost with the Information Poster and bus timetable which will be in place on Monday.

At the Campus you will have the chance to explore the beautiful campus, visit some of the buildings and follow our exploration/activity map. Make sure you round off your visit with delicious Chinese dumplings.

For more information on the reasons for our celebration please read on.

EXPANSION and a celebration

A decade on from the signing of the agreement to set up the Confucius Institute for Scotland, we will mark our 10th Anniversary on 19 Sept 2016 when we expand from one building into three on our expanded Confucius Campus.

Your Invitation

Whether you want to just come along to see the new campus, take part by learning some Tai Chi poses, be introduced to a range of Chinese musical instruments, try your hand at calligraphy – or simply take a selfie with the Panda mascots – you will be most welcome.  Our teachers will also be offering some taster Chinese language sessions as well.

Of course no celebration would be complete without food so please come and enjoy some delicious Chinese dumplings which will be on offer throughout the afternoon.

As this is an open invite and a family friendly event, please feel free to bring along family /friends and please do help us to spread the word!

More information on the expansion is below.

Confucius Institute for Scotland Campus

Nos 79 & 81 Dalkeith Road, formerly the location of the University’s day care nursery, has for the last year been undergoing a quiet refurbishment to create additional learning and collaboration spaces for Institute students, visiting staff and various academic and cultural partners.

No 79
Confucius Campus North, 79 Dalkeith Road

With six fully provisioned teaching rooms, a post-graduate study room, research library and staff offices the expansion will mean most classes take place in the Dalkeith Road buildings at No 79 (North) and No 81 (South).

Fortunately  Institute staff and students can move easily between Abden House and the two refurbished buildings via the garden entrance to numbers 79 + 81 Dalkeith Road which back onto the University car park just outside the main gates of Abden!

Click here to see Confucius Campus map.

Getting to the Confucius Campus

Lothian buses no 2,14, 30 and 33 from the city stop directly outside no 79 Dalkeith Road which is the North Building of our Campus. This is in additional to the complimentary shuttle service running for the afternoon.

Chinese Arts & Cultural Festival Sun 14th August

Posted on

Sunday 14th August is the date for this one day celebration of Chinese Arts & Culture at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre Venue 150 when the Drama Club from the Institute’s University Partner, Fudan University in Shanghai, will open the programme.

Chinese Arts and Cultural Festival Morning Programme

10.00-11.00
RIchard II –  Fudan University Drama Club (in Chinese)

11.00-12.00
Puppet Show – by Shanghai Theatre Academy

Noon – lucky draw

Chinese Arts and Cultural Festival AFTERNOON Programme

14.00-15.30
Performance by the Experimental High School, Beijing Normal University

15.30-17.30
Peking Opera from Hubei Provincial Peking Opera Theatre

Chinese Arts & Culture FestivalOrganised by the Scotland China Chamber of Commerce, this one day celebration offers a Morning Programme and an Afternoon Programme as well as an Arts and Craft Exhibition. The opportunity for hands-on cultural activities will also be on offer.

For more information please visit the SCCC website page.

To book tickets for the morning please link to the Fringe website here

To book tickets for the afternoon please link to the Fringe website here.

 

Autumn Chinese Calligraphy Classes Sept/Oct 2016

Posted on

This autumn discover the ancient art of calligraphy using the traditional Chinese brush and ink combination that has been in use for thousands of years.

The five week course will be led by  Chi Zhang, the Institute’s experienced calligraphy teacher.  Students will be introduced to the materials of ink, brush, stone and paper, and initially common techniques will be introduced. The class will focus on the basic strokes of the traditional artistic writing style known as Clerical (Li Shu).  This is an artistic style dating back 2000 years which is still widely used in signage and posters.  This is an easy style to learn so is very suitable for beginners.

Students can anticipate completing at least one piece of Chinese calligraphy artwork per class.  The content can be selected from a range of options including a Chinese poem or perhaps a quotation from an ancient sage.

With a maximum of 10 students in the class plenty of personal attention is guaranteed as well as clear demonstrations and instructions to help students develop their skills.  Both beginners and advanced students are welcome in the class.

The cost is £75 for the 10 hour course which runs Tuesday evenings from 6pm-8pm from 27 September to 25 October 2016.  There is a concession rate of £60.  The fee includes all materials.
A minimum of five students are required to ensure the class goes ahead.

To secure a place on this rewarding course please download this registration PDF
Autumn2016-CalligRegFormHalfTerm, then complete and return it to the Confucius Institute for Scotland with a cheque for the correct amount made out to the University of Edinburgh.

OVERVIEW

Chinese Calligraphy Five Week Course
Tuesdays from 27 Sept-25 Oct 2016 6pm-8pm
£75 including all materials

Louise Reay: Que Sera, 些拉 4-14 & 16-28 Aug 2016

Posted on

Once again the Institute is pleased to be supporting this show from SOAS Chinese language graduate Louise Reay.  A comedy in Chinese for people who don’t speak Chinese, Que Sera is her follow up show following last year’s successful Fringe debut when she garnered great reviews.

“An absurdly brilliant clown act that explores the nature of communication and language” **** (Fringe Review)

“Superb… a standout show” (The Skinny)

“Truly fantastic,…utterly out there” (Al Murray)

Categorised in the Fringe as Comedy, Clown, Surreal, Absurdist, Funny, Stand Up you can catch Louise’s show at 15.20 daily from 4-14 or 16-28 August in Venue 88. Just the Tonic at the Caves. Advance booking here.

Louise Reay

Autumn Language Classes Sept-Dec 2016

Posted on

The autumn programme of Chinese language classes for students of all levels will start from w/b 26 September.  On line booking is now available.

Please note that online booking closes on the day the class starts after which bookings can be made directly to the Confucius Institute – subject to places being available.

Our students enjoy their learning at the Institute
Initially learning Chinese is like playing with Lego. The word simply slot together. THere are no male or female nouns, no changes for tenses and no plurals!
Lucas Cloveralcolea, Level 1 Student

Our teachers from our partner Fudan University, in Shanghai, come highly recommended.
Our teacher is fabulous! She explains everything very well, encourages us to speak and really adds to what the textbook offers. Ann Roodt, Level 2 Student

Classes are attended by a wide range of students.
My class has a diverse range of students of all ages and from a wide range of countries. The atmosphere is always warm, friendly and encouraging. James Hagerty, Level 3 Student

Motivations for learning are many and various.
I love learning Chinese. For me its a hobby, a challenge and very satisfying.
Felicity Rodner, Level 4 Student

To find out more or to register for a class please go to our online booking link page.

Job Opportunity – Project Assistant at Edinburgh Castle

Posted on

Working on behalf of Historic Environment Scotland, the Confucius Institute for Scotland is recruiting up to four part time enthusiastic Chinese speaking individuals to work along side the retail team in Edinburgh Castle.

Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s most popular paid visitor attraction, welcoming around 1.6 million visitors annually. This exciting project will investigate the impact of native speakers on the shop floor, and whether this has any impact on retail spend, and the associated key performance indicators.

Project Assistants will be required to

  • Learn, maintain and improve product knowledge, including manufacturing processes of textiles, alcohol and food lines, as well as licensing regulations associated with the sale of alcohol.
  • Maximise trading income through actively selling and up-selling appropriate merchandise, highlighting products across all 3 retail units.
  • Process sales, while ensuring that all financial procedures are adhered to and carried out accurately and efficiently.
  • Work with Front of House team to introduce guests to the stores and to the personal shopper service.
  • Greet guests and ensure high standards of customer service.
  • Promote and process VAT refund forms.
  • Comply with Historic Environment Scotland Health and Safety policy.

Key responsibilities, duties and objectives

To deliver the highest standard of customer care to all visitors at all times; enthusiastically provide information and assistance to visitors throughout their visit, whilst also ensuring visitor safety at Edinburgh Castle; and ensure high standards of presentation and professionalism are maintained at all times.

What we are looking for?

  • Fluency in Chinese;
  • High standards of customer service;
  • Previous sales experience;
  • Passion for Scotland and it’s heritage;
  • Energetic and proactive;
  • Sales driven and motivated to hit and exceed sales targets;
  • Able to up-sell and cross-sell to maximise every opportunity.

Post information:

Number of positions available: up to 4
Contract type: Part-time, Temporary (initial length of the contract is 4 months)
Salary: £8.31 per hour (plus holiday allowances)
Expected start date: 1 August 2016

To apply:

If you are interested in this opportunity, please email your CV to Jie Chen (jie.chen@ed.ac.uk) by Thursday, 14 July 2016. Short-listed candidate will be interviewed w/b 18 July 2016.