Source: Office of International Cooperation & Exchange
Written by: Office of International Cooperation & Exchange
Proofread by: Jia Xiaodan
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On October 8-12, 2016, a delegation led by Prof.Yan Guangmei, Vice President of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU), visited Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) to attend the annual Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at AdMU (CI-AdMU) and its 10th anniversary celebration.

Dr. Jose Ramon T. Villarin, S.J., President of AdMU, and Prof. Yan Guangmei attended the 2016 Board Meeting of CI-AdMU, and listened to the Director’s Report. Prof. Yan affirmed the development of CI-AdMU and praised the teachers and staff members of CI-AdMU for their contribution to Chinese language education. With many years of efforts, the Master of Teaching Chinese to Speakers of Other Languages (MTCSOL) program was set up at AdMU in 2016, becoming the first MTCSOL program in the Philippines.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the founding of CI-AdMU. Over 600 audience from China and the Philippines were present at the celebration concert. On behalf of SYSU President Luo Jun, Prof. Yan Guangmei read the letter of congratulations, and then presented “Spring Scenery in Lingnan”, a painting by SYSU Professor Yao Youyi, to CI-AdMU. Prof. Yan also communicated with 17 SYSU volunteers at CI-AdMU.

Afterwards, Prof. Yan Guangmei visited the Holy Name University (HNU). The Chinese teaching spot at HNU, set up by CI-AdMU, will be open in November 2016.

Members of the SYSU delegation also included Prof. Zhou Xiaobing, Director of Base for International Chinese Teaching Materials Development and Teacher Training, Associate Professor Zhang Shitao, Vice Dean of School of Foreign Languages, and Ms. Gu Wenli, Deputy Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange and Executive Deputy Director of Office of Confucius Institutes.

In 2006, SYSU officially established cooperation relations with AdMu. In October 2006, the CI-AdMu was set up, becoming the first Confucius Institute in the Philippines. It has played the role of a bridge between China and the Philippines, and enjoys broad influence in the Philippines.