TROY leaders talk future of Confucius Institute during China visit

The leadership board for Troy University’s Confucius Institute recently held a history-making meeting at Hanban, the global headquarters for all Confucius Institutes located in Beijing.

The meeting marks the first time one of the more than 500 Confucius Institutes have been allowed to hold a board meeting at Hanban.

“Having the opportunity to hold our board meeting at Hanban was a great honor and it speaks to the high regard held for TROY’s Confucius Institute,” Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., said.

The leadership board for Troy University's Confucius Institute at Hanban. — The leadership board for Troy University’s Confucius Institute at Hanban.

The board meeting included Hawkins and other TROY leaders, along with representatives from TROY’s Confucius Institute partner, Chongqing Normal University.

The meeting included discussion of the future for TROY’s Confucius Institute, particularly in its role as a training center for language teachers.

“Hanban challenged TROY and our partner Chongqing to create innovative and creative programs related to second language instruction,” said Dr. Earl Ingram, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs.

The meeting came during a 10-day trip to China by TROY leaders from June 8-18. While there, Dr. Hawkins presented degrees to a group of 1-2-1 Program graduates at Dalian Jiaotong University in the Liaodong Province.

Through the 1-2-1 Program, students from Chinese universities who have completed their first year of study transfer to the United States for two years of study at the Troy Campus, then return to their home institutions for a final year. When the students complete their academic programs, they receive degrees from the home institution and Troy University.

Troy University Chancellor Dr. Jack Hawkins, Jr., presents degrees to 1-2-1 Program graduates at Dalian Jiaotong University

The trip also included a stop at Tianjin University of Commerce, where an agreement was finalized to bring a group of 10 students from TUC to the Troy Campus this fall.

Dr. Hawkins called it a “remarkable week” spent in China.

“It’s been transformative for Troy University to become Alabama’s International University,” Dr. Hawkins said. “Working with the military, we found ourselves in countries around the world, but it didn’t occur at home until about 25 years ago when we really made the strategic commitment to bring the world to Troy. We have today students from 76 countries at the Troy Campus, including more than 400 from China, and if you listen carefully, you can hear more than 85 languages being spoken.”