On June 26^th, USTB and De Montfort University held the 6^th USTB-DMU Confucius Institute (CI) Council online. Prof. Simon Bradbury, Pro Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University, Ms. Kate Gerrard, Executive Director of the CI, Ms. Rita Tailor, CI finance officer, Ms. Anna Wang, CI coordinator, Prof. WU Aixiang, Vice President of USTB, Assoc. Prof. YANG Yingjun, Chinese Director of the CI, Prof. FENG Qiang, Director of the Office of International Affairs, and Ms. LI Bei, Associate Director of the Office of International Affairs participated the meeting. The Council reviewed the work and annual accounts of 2019, the work plan and budget of 2020, and discussed future plans for cooperation between the CI and the two universities.

At the meeting Assoc. Prof. YANG Yingjun, the Chinese Director of the CI, summarized the three primary achievements of the CI in 2019: increased cooperation and communication between two universities, growing Chinese language education and the promotion of cultural displays. He pointed out that in 2019 the CI had made many great achievements. For example, the number of Chinese language learners had increased significantly, while the number of non-credit learners had also increased by 45%. Additionally, the CI had held its fifth anniversary celebration. Furthermore, the CI hosted the “the Sixth Innovation Design Exhibition and Forum 2019” which had been organized by the two universities and displayed the outstanding design works of their graduates. In particular, the CI made great improvements in the development of cultural and promotional activities. It had held 98 cultural events in 2019, an increase of 41.1% from 2018, which were reported on by the BBC and other major medias outlets in Britain, which had expanded the influence of the Chinese language and improved USTB’s overseas visibility. Assoc. Prof. YANG also reported on the challenges faced by the CI in recruiting volunteers and conducting online courses due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Finally, he pointed out that in 2020, the CI will continue to promote Chinese language courses and develop cooperation between the two universities.

The work of the CI in 2019 had been affirmed by the Council and the two sides discussed the 2020 plan as well as cooperation between the two universities. They promised to strengthen cooperative efforts in scientific research, establish a mechanism for increasing academic exchanges, promote student exchange programs, and explore the possibility of setting up teacher training programs through the CI.

Prof. WU Aixiang spoke of how due to the pandemic the CI will face many challenges in 2020. The CI should therefore complete its 2020 work plan using an innovative and flexible approach. At the same time, the two universities should collaborate further in science and technology. USTB has always been committed to strengthening academic exchanges between teachers and students to promote development. Mr. Bradbury also pointed that while due to the epidemic some exchange activities held by the two universities are suspended, it would not indefinitely affect the exchanges and cooperation of the two sides. Based on the CI platform, he hoped to establish new academic exchange programs to promote further cooperation between the two sides.