The University of Venda Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni delivered a Key-note Address at the 15th International Symposium on Chinese Language Teaching at the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) on 20 August 2024. The Symposium was co-orga-nized by the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and MUST.
Professor Nthambeleni and the University of Venda delegation received a warm welcome to the Macau University of Science and Technology (MUST) in China. The Symposium aimed to examine the intricate challenges and explore the vast opportunities facing the expansion of Chinese lan-guage education – in both reach and depth – across diverse cultural landscapes.
Representing the Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI) at the University of Venda South Africa, he delivered a keynote address entitled “Chinese + Professional Skills” Education Model in the “One Belt One Road” Scope: A Key Concept of Green Technology Confucius Institute at the Uni-versity of Venda South Africa. Professor Nthambeleni’s keynote address discussed the topic from three perspectives: the introduction of UNIVEN and the Confucius Institute at UNIVEN, GTCI; the “Chinese +” Model and its background: the “One Belt One Road Initiative”; and the GTCI model of training interdisciplinary talents with Chinese + Green Technology talent skills.
Over two days, delegates engaged in active discussions, shared innovative research, and exchanged ideas that promised to redefine the boundaries of Chinese language education. The Symposium also investigated how regional and national nuances influence teaching methodologies and how these can be harmoniously incorporated into a comprehensive educational framework that respects diversity while celebrating commonalities. The GTCI was the only African Confucius Institute to present and represent the African Confucius institutes and the only institute in the world which include the Chinese + Green Technology Model.
The Symposium was attended by delegates from all walks of life representing universities hosting the Confucius Institutes on behalf of Chinese universities throughout the world. Over 2000 Con-fucius Institutes (CIs) have been established in the world and about 61 established in 46 African countries, according to a 2022 article “Behind the rising Chinese fever in Africa”. Unlike some re-gions of the world, all the African CIs are flourishing and making impact on the local communities in one way or another.
The first African Confucius Institute was set up in 2005 in the University of Nairobi, Kenya and the first one in South Africa was established in 2011 in Stellenbosch University. In South Africa, there are 7 Confucius Institutes and the one at the University of Venda – GTCI is the only one situated in a rural area with green technology feature, which means a bigger role for it to play in the area to benefit the local and nearby communities.
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