Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University

Logo of the Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University

Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University (Thai: สถาบันขงจื๊อ มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น, in Chinese 孔敬大学孔子学院) is the first Confucius Institute in the northeast of Thailand, established on May 24, 2006 with the collaboration between Khon Kaen University (KKU) and Southwest University (SWU, 西南大学). In the second Confucius Institute Conference in Beijing in December 2007, Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University was announced Confucius Institute of the Year 2007: an award given to 20 Confucius Institutes among 210 of which around the globe.

Introduction

Khon Kaen University (KKU) foresaw the rapidly increasing demands for Chinese language study of the people in the northeast of Thailand. With its aims to strengthen educational cooperation between China and Thailand, to support and promote the development of Chinese language education, and to increase mutual understanding between the people of China and Thailand, together with the support from The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand, the agreement was signed between KKU and Southwest University (SWU) for the cooperation for Confucius Institute in March 2006, and the agreement between KKU and The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) for the establishment of the Confucius Institute at KKU was signed on May 24, 2006. On August 3, 2006, Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University held its opening ceremony and began its operation, which has become the first one who functions before other Confucius Institutes in Thailand.

The Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University is a non-profit institute with the purpose of enhancing intercultural understanding between Thai and Chinese people by sponsoring courses of Chinese language and culture. With the authorization and appointment from The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), Beijing, People’s Republic of China, KKU and Southwest University (SWU) are committed to collaborate on the establishment of the Confucius Institute at KKU and to execute the Institute’s activities to achieve its goals.

Khon Kaen is the hub for the northeast region of Thailand, which covers the largest land and population of the country. Due to its geographical location and the well developed transportation infrastructure, public utility systems, and technological development, Khon Kaen has become the center for the Mekong River sub-region. In addition, Khon Kaen is the core for academic institutions and trainings of the region especially at high school and university level.

Khon Kaen University is the national leading educational and learning center for the northeast region of Thailand and is the oldest and largest university in the region, with the greatest number of students and programs. KKU has worked closely with more than 1,500 high schools in the region on teacher training programs. Furthermore, KKU has developed collaboration with neighboring countries, especially the countries of Indo-China. Therefore, the Confucius Institute at KKU will serve as a center for Chinese language teaching, training and cultural studies in the northeast region of Thailand as well as the Mekong River sub-region.

Activity

Phase 1 （Years 2006-2007）

1. Conducting training courses.
2. Developing training courses for Chinese teachers in schools (Certificate Program), and for students or people in the Khon Kaen community.
3. Developing curriculum for the Bachelor Degree program in Chinese (collaborative program between KKU & SWU), a 4-year program.
4. Developing curriculum for the Master’s Degree program in Chinese (collaborative program between KKU & SWU), a 2-year program.
5. Organizing training courses open to the Northeast Region and neighboring countries.
6. Organizing exhibitions, performances and activities to promote Chinese art and culture such as contest for Chinese knowledge, tea ceremony, classical music, karaoke contest, films/movies, gardening, Chinese ikebana, traditional costumes, Chinese cuisine, painting and calligraphy, Kung-fu, Chinese folk dancing.

Phase 2 (Years 2008-2009)

1. Offering the Master’s and Doctoral degree programs.
2. Organizing training courses for various target groups in Northeast Thailand and the neighboring countries.
3. Organizing tests for certifying competence in teaching Chinese as a foreign language.
4. Organizing the HSK and developing other Chinese language tests for the locals.
5. Enhancing collaborative research on China and Chinese language among scholars in KKU and SWU.
6. Student exchange program, internship program in China for students.
7. Staff exchange program, KKU’s teaching staff development program.
8. Promoting and producing media on Chinese language and culture.
9. Providing consultation services to students who wish to study in China.
10. Organizing seminars or conferences on Chinese language and culture.

Services

1. Providing consultation services to students who wish to study in China.
2. Providing translation services from Thai to Chinese and vice versa.
3. Gallery of Chinese paintings and calligraphy.

Future Development

Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University is determined to become the center for Chinese language teaching, training, HSK test, and Chinese culture in the Mekong River sub-region including Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Location and Contact Address

6th Floor, Building of the Faculty of Technology, Khon Kaen University 123 Mithranpharp Road, Muang District, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand

External links

• Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University
• Khon Kaen University
• Southwest University
• The Office of Chinese Language Council Internation (Hanban)