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Confucius Classroom Comes to The College
Unveiling of Confucius Classroom at The College of The Bahamas
From left to right: Dr. Moss, Dean Wang Suchun, Executive Vice-President Dr. Chipman-Johnson, Ambassador Hu Dingxian, President Li Lianshui, Dean Li Zhongming
25 November 2009
The College of The Bahamas opened new doors of opportunity for Bahamian immersion in the Chinese culture and language through the establishment of a Confucius Classroom, a collaborative effort with the Confucius Institute and The Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology (NUIST) in China.
His Excellency Hu Dingxian, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, President Li Lianshui of The Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Professor Wang Suchun, Dean of the School of International Education, and Professor Li Zhongming, Dean of the School of Language and Culture, traveled thousands of miles for the unveiling of The College's Confucius Classroom and the signing of the Implementation Agreement between the two institutions.
Confucius Classrooms are extensions of the larger Confucius Institutes, which are non-profit institutes funded by the Chinese Government and aimed at promoting Chinese language and culture.
The College's International Languages and Cultures Institute (ILCI) has been teaching Mandarin for two years. The Confucius Classroom will further enhance the teaching of Chinese in The Bahamas and will inspire innovative teaching and learning techniques. At a recent press conference for the special unveiling of Confucius Classroom plaque, Executive Vice President, Dr. Rhonda Chipman-Johnson on behalf of College President Ms. Janyne M. Hodder greeted the delegates.
"We want to welcome our delegates from China to The College of The Bahamas, we are delighted to have you with us," she said.
"As an institution of higher learning, The College of The Bahamas fosters a tradition of excellence through education, research and innovation and service. It is through these partnerships, that we are able to expose our students, faculty, staff and the community to new languages, arts and culture. The Confucius Classroom is a great beginning as we move towards having a full-fledged Confucius Institute in years to come."
NUIST President Li, expressed his pleasure with partnering with The College of The Bahamas for this venture.
"It is my great pleasure to come here all the way from China to the beautiful Bahamas to be present for the unveiling ceremony of the Confucius Classroom co-established by The College of The Bahamas and The Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology," expressed President Li. "This is not only a reward and conclusion of our former work but also a new start and an opportunity for cooperation in scientific research, exchange of teaching staff, students and learning."
Ambassador Hu of The People's Republic of China also expressed his delight at the opening of the Confucius Classroom and pledged his full support for this important undertaking.
"The establishment of the Confucious Classroom is a new achievement of friendly exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture and education," said Ambassador Hu. "Though China and Bahamas are geographically separated by thousands of miles and our size, social system and cultures are different, we respect each other, learn from each other and treat each other on an equal footing and conduct sincere cooperation. The friendship between our two peoples has been continuously strengthened. I am sure and I believe that the establishment of the Confucius Classroom here will serve as a mode to promote friendship between our two peoples."
The exchange continued with words of welcome from Ministry of Foreign Affairs Under Secretary Ms. Marilyn Zonicle. Director of the new Confucius Classroom Dr. Irene Moss expressed gratitude for her warm welcome while visiting Nanjing, China last summer.
"I want to thank President Li and the Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology University for their wonderful and warm reception of me last summer, I spent five weeks in China, four of them in Nanjing I was treated like a Ming Empress. I hope we can return the favour," she said.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Chipman-Johnson presented President Li with a plaque of appreciation and a gift. President Li returned the favour by presenting a gift for President Hodder. The official plaque of the Confucius Classroom at The College of The Bahamas was then unveiled by Ambassador Hu and Dr. Chipman-Johnson.
It is estimated that 30 million people worldwide are learning to speak Chinese. The establishment of the Confucius Classroom strengthens The College's mission to drive national development through research, education, innovation and service. In years to come The College will join the ranks of the University of Havana in Cuba and the University of the West Indies in Jamaica both with established Confucius Institutes.
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