Students interested in learning about Chinese culture don’t have to travel the world to immerse themselves in Chinese history and film.
The Confucius Institute at Kennesaw State was established in September 2008 in collaboration with the Office of Chinese Language Council International. The nonprofit institute is among an exclusive group of universities that have partnered with the People’s Republic of China to promote the study of Chinese language, culture, ethics and philosophy.
KSU partnered with Yangzhou University to operate the Confucius Institute. Yangzhou University, located in China’s Jiangsu Province, has played a key role in increasing educational and business communities in the Atlanta area and the Southeastern United States.
CIKSU provides a number of resources for KSU students and hosts several events on KSU’s campuses. One recent event was the 9th Chinese Cinema Forum on Oct. 2 where keynote speaker Pema Tseden, a Tibetan filmmaker and director, talked about Chinese film. On Oct. 4, Tseden showed his film, “Tharlo” and held an audience discussion after the free viewing.
The film screening was an “opportunity for KSU to learn about Chinese culture and filmmakers as well as an opportunity to enrich campus life,” said Ken Jin, the executive director of the Confucius Institute.
The next event from CIKSU is the Chinese Cultural Performance variety show, which will take place at the Bailey Performance Center at 7 p.m. on the Kennesaw Campus. This variety show is free to students and the general public, so long as attendees register online beforehand. South-Focal College for Nationalities Art Troupe will perform a variety of traditional folk music and dances from China’s diverse ethnic minority groups.
CIKSU will also host a Vocal Performance featuring KSU faculty and performers from China on Thursday, Nov. 8 at 1 p.m. in the Bailey Performance Center.
“Performers will sing a blend of traditional Chinese folk songs and Western sounds like jazz and hip-hop,” Jin said.
Among other resources offered by CIKSU, students can also earn scholarships for a master’s degree in teaching Chinese to speakers of other languages, Chinese language and literature, Chinese history and Chinese philosophy. Students can also study abroad in China with CIKSU and the Department of Global Affairs.
CIKSU’s Chinese Learning Program works in tandem with the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, providing Chinese language instruction at public and private pre-K centers throughout Georgia. In collaboration with the Georgia Department of Education, CIKSU provides Chinese language and culture classes to primary and secondary schools in Cobb, Hall, Dekalb and Bibb counties.
KSU students, staff and faculty can find more information about CIKSU on their website, dga.kennesaw.edu/ci/ or stop by their office at suite 1900 in the Town Point Building.