SASKATCHEWAN UNIVERSITIES HOST PRESTIGIOUS CONFUCIUS INSTITUTES

The Government of Saskatchewan is congratulating officials at the University of Saskatchewan (U of S) and the University of Regina (U of R) on being selected to host prestigious Confucius Institutes on their respective campuses. A Confucius Institute is a non-profit public institution that offers credit and non-credit classes in Chinese language, history, culture, art and business practices.

"This is a very significant accomplishment for both universities, and for our province," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "I think it is especially impressive for our province to be approved for two Confucius Institutes. That speaks to the high quality of our two universities."

Each institute operates as a partnership with a Chinese university. The University of Regina will partner with Hunan University, while the University of Saskatchewan's application was sponsored by the Beijing Institute of Technology.

Each application also requires approval by HanBan, a Chinese non-government organization that provides matching funding for start up and operating costs for Confucius Institutes around the world.

The Confucius Institutes in Saskatchewan will be two of only 13 in Canada, of approximately 300 in almost 100 countries worldwide. While planning has just begun for the Institute at the University of Saskatchewan, a delegation of Chinese officials joined Dr. Vianne Timmons to officially open the Institute at the University of Regina today. The opening was part of the official celebration of the 30-year relationship between the University of Regina and China that began in 1981 with the signing of an historic agreement between the university and Shandong University.

"These institutes will raise the international profile of our universities, and help provide a welcoming environment for the hundreds of Chinese students studying in Saskatchewan," Norris said. "I encourage students to take advantage of the unique learning opportunities the Confucius Institutes will offer at our two universities."

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For more information, contact:

Richelle Bourgoin
Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration
Regina
Phone: 7306-87-8153
Email: richelle.bourgoin@gov.sk.ca