IOE Confucius Institute’s National Network Coordinator Xiaoming Zhu was invited by the Cyprus University Confucius Institute to join their Forum on Teaching Chinese Language and Culture in Schools from 18th to 19th November. Xiaoming delivered a key note speech talking about the development of Chinese teaching in schools in England and the key role the IOE CI has played.

The delegates from both state and private schools, many of whom were school leaders, showed great interest in various aspects of the UK experience in introducing and promoting the teaching of Chinese language and culture. They particularly focused on resources, teacher recruitment and teacher training. Xiaoming also met with Ms Elena Avgoustidou-Kyriakou, the CI Director and Mr. Zhenxian Wang, the CI Chinese Director and discussed potential collaborations between the two CIs. The Chinese Ambassador in Cyprus H.E. Huang Xinyuan and Mr. Andreas Papastylianou, Chief Education Officer at Cyprus Ministry of Education and Culture were present and gave speeches at the opening ceremony of the Forum.

The Cyprus University Confucius Institute was established in 2014 and they are keen to promote the teaching and learning of Chinese in schools.