Brief Introduction

Board of Advisors

Program Committee

Our Staff

Visiting Scholars

Partner Institution

Brief Introduction

The Confucius Institute is a non-profit, public institute with the goal of promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching internationally through affiliated Confucius Institutes around the globe.

Confucius Institutes are established by the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, headquartered in Beijing.

The University of Memphis is home to the only Confucius Institute in the state of Tennessee and the first in the Mid-South.

In conjunction with its partner institution, Hubei University in China, the Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis promotes understanding of the Chinese language and culture among the people of the United States, develops friendly relations between the U. S. and China, accelerates the expansion of multiculturalism, and provides opportunities for students studying the Chinese language.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis will occupy the entire 11th floor of Wilder Tower beginning in early 2009. A statue of Confucius, designed by a local artist, will greet visitors to the Institute.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis is closely affiliated with the University’s new Asian Studies and International Trade program, whose aim is to provide students with the critical combination of skills that an increasing number of companies seek: international business knowledge, foreign language proficiency, cultural sensitivity and experience abroad. The program was created by an anonymous $1 million donation to the University.

The University of Memphis has long participated in educational exchanges with a number of universities in China, including Hubei University, its partner in the Confucius Institute.

A pilot institute was established in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in June 2004. The first Confucius Institute opened on November 21, 2004 in Seoul, Korea.

Republic of China estimates that, by the year 2010, there will be approximately 100 million people worldwide learning Chinese as a foreign language.

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Board of Advisors

• Dr. Shirley C. Raines

President, University of Memphis – Board Chair

• Dr. Wu Chuanxi

President, Hubei University – Board Vice-Chair

• Dr. Ralph Faudree

Provost, University of Memphis

• Dr. Henry Kurtz

 Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, University of Memphis

• Mr. Rudi Scheidt

Community Representative

• Professor Li Xiangkun

Director of the International Office, Hubei University

• Dr. Hsiang-te Kung

Director, Confucius Institute at the University of Memphis – Ex officio

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Program Committee

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Our Staff

• Dr. Hsiang-te Kung

Director

Professor In Geography

• Yiping Yang

Associate Director

Associate Professor in English and Cross-culture Studies

• Ms. Riki H. Jackson

Assistant Director

• Ms. Zhaohui Liu (Nancy)

Administrative Assistant

• Ms. Xuefei Hu (Daphne)

Chinese Language Instructor

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Visiting Scholars

• Dr. Yamin Chen      (in Cultural Industry)
• Dr. Yun chen          (in Philosophy)
• Ms. Liyuan Hong    (volunteer language instructor)
• Ms. Hailing Feng    (volunteer language instructor)
• Ms. Hui Tian          (volunteer language instructor)
• Ms. Hongxia Peng  (in Geography)

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Partner Institution

Hubei University

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