Editorials

Confucius Institute Introduces China to Americans

Published: 09/26/2008

Editorial Board

A week ago today, the University opened Minnesota’s first Confucius Institute. The nonprofit organization is part of “a worldwide effort by the Chinese government to promote Chinese language and culture,” Director Joan Brzezinski explains. There are currently 40 of these institutes at universities throughout the United States, and over 260 affiliated Confucius Institutes worldwide operating under The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) in Beijing. Overseen by the Chinese government, Hanban aims to establish 1,000 institutes by 2020.

Like other Confucius Institutes, this one was founded with equal financial support from the Chinese government (through Hanban) and its foreign partner — in this case, the University. But Hanban requires partners to “accept operational guidance from the Headquarter and follow relevant teaching standard” for eligibility. Why has the University funded an educational institute paid for and ultimately run by the Chinese government, a government that still screens favorable “facts” into history textbooks’ coverage of China’s oppression of Tibet, the Tiananmen Square massacre, and the Cultural Revolution? As Ge Jianxiong, director of the Institute of Chinese Historical Geography at Fudan University in Shanghai put it, “Quite frankly, in China there are some areas, very sensitive subjects, where it is impossible to tell people the truth.” The University’s decision sets a risky precedent.

According to Brzezinski, “The University entered a very serious negotiation with Hanban over programming.” Brzezinski explained that the institute will offer an introductory Chinese language course as well as a course on kung-fu. While these programs are politically benign, Brzezinski said that upon founding new institutes, Universities without pre-existing Chinese language programs receive curriculum formulation and teaching-plan assistance from Hanban headquarters in Beijing, which develops and provides the institutes with teaching methods and textbooks. The Confucius Institute here also has a goal to expand K-12 Chinese curricula within the state. No entity within China’s government with an education history so controversial should be developing and distributing teaching standards or course materials to be used in American educational settings.

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Confusion over Confucius

Submitted by Massoud Amin (not verified) on Mon, 09/29/2008 - 8:35am.

It was interesting to read in your editorial on September 26, 2008 on the newly established Confucius Institute at the University of Minnesota. The mission of this joint project between the University and the Hanban in China is to promote the study of Chinese language and culture. The University has a remarkable history of nearly 95 years of collaborative exchanges with China. It has worked with a number of government agencies and institutions on jointly-funded research, workshops, educational and cultural projects. These exchanges have enhanced the research and cultural understanding of thousands of Chinese and Minnesotan scholars, students and faculty.

On a professional note, I know the colleagues at the Confucius Institute and at the University of Minnesota. I have worked closely with them on collaborative projects over the past four years. Although I very rarely write unsolicited letters such as this; in addition, it is important to note that I don't receive any funding from them, have no hidden agenda, and there is no ethical gray zone. Therefore I thought I'd share my assessment and observations with you.

The colleagues involved are very capable, deeply care about creating positive educational, research, and cultural opportunities for Minnesotans. They work hard to thoughtfully build sustainable bridges between our University and State with China. In all my interactions with them, I have noticed the utmost care they use to systematically build paths forward to meet the goals noted above, while being a careful steward of resources with highest integrity. Agreements such as this undergo very careful reviews by the University’s team of lawyers and the senior administrators, to assure integrity, highest legal and academic standards in the agreement. All care is used to enter into sustainable partnerships to make a positive difference in Minnesota and the world.