The University of Central Arkansas next year will become the only university in Arkansas and only the 23rd university in the nation to establish an officially sanctioned Confucius Institute.
The Confucius Institute is dedicated to the promotion and exchange of Chinese culture and language. UCA’s Confucius Institute is a cooperative project involving UCA, the Office of Chinese Language Council International and East China Normal University, and it will be funded through a $100,000 gift from the Office of Chinese Language Council.
UCA already has a number of impressive China-related initiatives, including a federal Title VI grant, a musician exchange, guest Chinese scholars, Mandarin language classes, the Community Language School and study abroad programs in China. The UCA Confucius Institute will be able to provide support for these programs and provide opportunities for new projects.
The Confucius Institute is designed not only to benefit UCA but also to serve as a regional resource center for Chinese culture and language. Cultural programming, training and services will be available to area schools as well as Arkansas companies interested in doing business in China.
The UCA Confucius Institute will formally open in early 2008. Hui Wu, Associate Professor of Writing at UCA, has been named interim executive director, and Jim Brosam II will serve as associate director. The institute will be located within the Office of International Programs in Torreyson West.
