China trying to broaden its cultural reach
MAUREEN DOLAN | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 8 months AGO
University of Idaho officials are holding a ceremony in Moscow today to announce the opening of a Confucius Institute on campus.
There are roughly 90 such institutes at universities throughout the United States, and hundreds more abroad.
The stated focus of the Confucius Institutes is to promote Chinese language and cultural programs. U.S. higher education officials also see it as a way to increase opportunities for commerce with the Asian economic power.
"The University of Idaho has offered courses on Chinese history and culture, but only a few Chinese language courses. We seek to enhance these offerings with an eye towards building strong relationships with South China University of Technology, especially in the areas of sustainability and rural/urban issues; business; engineering; and nuclear safety," states the University of Idaho's proposal to the Office of Chinese Language Council, seeking to establish the institute in Moscow.
Confucius Institutes are nonprofit public entities funded by an arm of the Chinese government's Ministry of Education. The costs and oversight of individual institutes are shared by the host universities and a partnering university in China. The University of Idaho's partner is South China University of Technology.
The Moscow center will be the only Confucius Institute in Idaho, and one of only a few in the region.
There is an institute in Missoula and another in Seattle, said Richard Reardon, a University of Idaho assistant dean based in Coeur d'Alene.
China has been setting up Confucius Institutes since 2004, in an effort to broaden its cultural reach beyond its borders. Many analysts consider it a soft power initiative.
A 2012 New York Times article described a Confucius Institute as "a cultural outpost of the Chinese government.
In addition to creating a strong Chinese language program at the University of Idaho, officials plan for the institute to provide language and cultural outreach to kindergarten- to 12th-grade schools, other educational organizations and businesses.
"It's a unique opportunity," Reardon said.
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