Texas A&M University has partnered with the Chinese government and one of its major research institutions to develop the Confucius Institute, which aims to strengthen ties between China and the Lone Star State, officials said.

The Confucius Institute at Texas A&M University is designed to serve as a regional center promoting both the language and culture of China, administrators said.

Though an agreement was formalized last fall, the formal opening of the institute was celebrated Monday during a reception and ceremony at the George Bush Library and Conference Center.

"We see the Confucius Institute as being a real focal point and resource for the state of Texas," said Randolph Kluver, director of the Institute for Pacific Asia and International Programs at Texas A&M.

The institute is designed to serve as a multi-faceted resource that can be used in corporate, political and educational arenas, Kluver said. It is designed to promote a greater understanding of the country, as well as education, trade and cultural exchange.

The ceremony featured A&M President Elsa Murano, Consul General Qiao Hong from the Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Houston and Ocean University of China Wu Dexing.

The Ocean University of China partnered with Texas A&M to develop the Confucius Institute. The two also have partnered with China's Ministry of Education, which provided the initial $100,000 in grant money to develop the institute. Kluver said A&M pledged faculty and staff time for the project, but he couldn't put a dollar amount those contributions.

The College Station location is one of 42 in the country and 226 worldwide.

"This new institute will play an important role in promoting much understanding and friendship between American and Chinese peoples," Wu said.

Kluver said A&M's move to partner with China was strategic. The country is taking on an increasingly powerful role in the world. Its economy is booming and its population is surging, he said, adding that there's an increased need for graduates who have studied the country, understand it and speak the language.

"A&M is not known as a place that is globally engaged," Kluver said after the ceremony. "One of the things we're trying to do is change that."

As part of the Confucius Institute partnership, the Ocean University of China will send faculty members to Texas A&M to teach Chinese, according to Carmen Suen, program coordinator for the Institute for Pacific Asia and Confucius Institute.

The additional faculty members -- at least two and up to three at a time -- will allow A&M to offer high level classes in the Chinese language, Suen said. Currently, there is such a demand for the classes that only juniors and seniors are allowed to enroll. By the time students are fluent, they are graduating and not able to study abroad, she said.

However, with additional faculty, freshmen and sophomores will be able to enroll and then study abroad, which will provide them with an international experience, the program coordinator said.

Speaking before the ceremony, Suen said the institute also was working with the state's Education Service Center for Region VI to provide distance learning for high school students interested in the Chinese language. The classes will be taught by A&M faculty and offered via video conferencing.

Since taking office in January, A&M's new president repeatedly has stressed the importance of providing Aggies with more international experiences. On Monday, Murano reiterated her intentions as she kicked off the 30-minute ceremony with a pledge to increase global awareness on campus and augment the international experiences available for students.

Texas ranks third in the nation in the amount of exports it sends to China, Murano said, and the Asian country is the third-largest exporter to the Lone Star State.

So it seems to make sense that Texas A&M would play home to the institute, she said.

"We are pleased, we are pleased indeed, to be the home of the Confucius Institute," Murano said.

• Holly Huffman's e-mail address is holly.huffman@theeagle.com.

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6 comment(s) found!

Posted by: On: 5/11/2008

Comment Title:
Ask any Korean war vet what he thinks.The Chinese are out to capitalize on any signs of weakness and TAMU is giving them their blessings.I don't approve.
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Posted by: On: 5/6/2008

Comment Title:
Yes, I agree
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Posted by: On: 5/6/2008

Comment Title:
This is why it it is good to have a Presidential Library
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Posted by: On: 5/6/2008

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Allowing aggies to learn Chinese is a good step for International recognition in the acedemic world
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Posted by: On: 5/6/2008

Comment Title:
Glad to see this happen
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Posted by: On: 5/6/2008

Comment Title:
Good Bull
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