The University of Sydney Confucius Institute

悉尼大学孔子学院

By Professor John Hearn, Chairman of the Confucius Institute Board

Open any newspaper, visit any bookshop, and the extent of the West’s fascination with China quickly becomes apparent. Businessmen, politicians, diplomats, commentators –everyone, it seems, wants to learn how to do business with China or to guess what China is thinking.

In our haste to exploit China as a supplier and a market place, or to analyse its every move as a growing global power, we sometimes forget the remarkable contributions China has made to the world over the past 4000 years.

Therein lies the value of the Confucius Institute. Since its opening in 2008 – an event not without criticism from those who proclaimed it would be a Communist Party mouthpiece – the Institute has quietly and successfully gone about its business of promoting Chinese language and culture. In doing so, it has become a key component in the bridge between the University and the People’s Republic.

Some of its work goes on with little fuss or fanfare: services such as language training, teacher education and the provision of support for joint academic projects are high in value, but generally slip below the radar of public attention.

Other events such as talks on Chinese traditional medicine and calligraphy workshops at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music have attracted large audiences. Another stunning example was the staging of a Chinese Opera night, when 700 people turned out to see a performance by the Jingkun Theatre from Hong Kong.

Hans Hendrischke and his staff deserve every credit for giving Sydney a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the richness and diversity of China’s culture.

John Hearn
Deputy Vice-Chancellor, International
Professor of Physiology, School of Medical Sciences
The University of Sydney