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~I. Basic facts about Bangladesh
Bangladesh sits on the delta created by the Ganges River and Brahmaputra River in the South-Asia sub-continent. It shares borders with India in the East, West and North, Myanmar in the Southeast, and oversees the Bay of Bengal in the South. The several independent states in history established by the Bengalis, one of the ancient ethnics in the Sub-continent, used to command a territory as far to West Bengal, Bihar and other states of present India. In March 1971, the erstwhile East Pakistan announced independence. In January 1972, the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was founded.
Since the establishment of formal bilateral diplomatic relations on October 4, 1974, China and Bangladesh have maintained healthy and sustainable cooperative relations, and carried out fruitful collaborations in all fields including politics, economy, military and culture. Currently with China becoming a major trading partner of Bangladesh, the economic exchanges between the two countries are on steady rise, import, export and trading are active and vibrant.
Situated on the north bank of Briganga River in the delta of Ganges River, Capital Dhaka, the largest city in Bangladesh as well as a major city in South Asia, is the political, economic and cultural center of Bangladesh.
II. University of Dhaka and Relevant Departments
1. University of Dhaka
Founded in the capital Dhaka in 1921, University of Dhaka is the sole university with a history of close to a hundred years in Bangladesh. It consists of 23 faculties and institutes such as Faculty of Art, Faculty of Science, Institute of Modern Languages etc, with 71 departments, 38 research centers, 80% of which are entitled to award master’s degree and doctor’s degree.
As the largest and most famous public university in Bangladesh, University of Dhaka is Bangladesh’s cradle of elites having nurtured a large number of top talents in the last 90 years, and is crowned as Eastern Oxford for its high educational qualities.
2. Institute of Modern Languages, University of Dhaka
As one of the main institutes of liberal arts, Institute of Modern Languages offers courses of 15 languages, including Chinese, English, French, Russian, Japanese, Spanish etc, and applies two educational systems, i.e. degree and non-degree. (Picture 3)
3. Department of Chinese Language, University of Dhaka
Set up in 1978 at Institute of Modern Languages, Department of Chinese Language is the first place to introduce Chinese Language education. It mainly offers non-degree courses. In 1993, it started recruiting Chinese language teachers/volunteer teachers dispatched by China Confucius Institute Headquarters. As of December 2015, more than 20 such teachers/volunteer teachers used to teach at Department of Chinese Language in University of Dhaka.
4. China Research Center at University of Dhaka
Located in Institute of Modern Languages, China Research Center was constructed by China Harbin Wanxida Construction Co.Ltd, and commissioned in February 2015, with funding by Chinese Government. All the facilities in the offices and classrooms were provided by Chinese Government.
5. Summary of Chinese language education in Bangladesh
Currently in Bangladesh, the main Chinese language education institutions under the Confucius Institute Headquarters are Confucius Institute at North South University and SMF-CRI Confucius Classroom. Other educational institutions offering Chinese language courses such as University of Dhaka and BRAC University also play a positive role in the promotion of Chinese language and culture. (Picture 5)
III. Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka
In September 2015, University of Dhaka formally submitted to Confucius Institute Headquarters the application for joint establishment of Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka with Chinese partner Yunnan University. The application was approved on November 5, 2015.
Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka is a non-profit education and research institution. Affiliated to University of Dhaka, jointly operated by Yunnan University and University of Dhaka under the direct leadership of Confucius Institute Headquarters, it applies Director Responsibility System under Confucius Institute Council.
1. Functions of Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka
Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka and Confucius Institute at North South University will complement each other with their respective advantages, and collaborate in all aspects including cultural exchanges and scientific research. Supported by the education and research resources provided by Yunnan University, and the strength in language education and South Asia studies held by the two universities, Yunnan University and University of Dhaka will also join hands to build a Confucius Institute that inherits Sino-Bangladesh traditional friendship, integrates Chinese language education, cultural promotion, country studies, academic exchanges, and provision of services for enterprises of the two countries.
2. Framework of Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka
1) Chinese language Education
A. To train local Chinese language teachers in a planned, systemic, and large - scale way;
B. To assist Department of Chinese Language in its effort to introduce the Chinese language undergraduate program.
C. To offer Chinese language trainings to senior management officials of Bangladesh government departments;
D. To expand standardized Chinese proficiency tests i.e. HSK, YCT, and BCT etc. in Bangladesh;
E. To conduct research on Chinese language education, compile localized teaching materials, and nurture sinologists in Bangladesh.
F. To introduce Chinese language subject at schools in Bangladesh.
2) Cultural Exchanges
A. To Set up Sino-Bangladesh Culture and Arts Exchanges Center of Confucius Institute to promote bilateral exchanges in culture and arts, such as traditional paintings and dances, works of Rabindranath Tagore, and Four Classis of China, etc. through organizing lectures, seminars and visits.
B. To offer two culture courses, i.e. Chinese culture course which covers calligraphy, paper cutting, Chinese knots, martial arts, musical instruments etc., and Bangladeshi culture course that covers Bangla, Bangladeshi dance etc.
C. To host lectures and seminars on Chinese politics, economy, culture, history and language.
3) Country Studies
Region/country studies are essential for China’s reform, opening up, and socialistic modernization with Chinese characteristics, especially for the construction of “One Belt One Road” and development of global governance. Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka will serve as a country- studies platform, where valuable and meaningful researches that combine language and culture study, history comparison study, political and social study etc. are jointly conducted by experts and scholars of University of Dhaka and Yunnan University, aiming for developing a region/country studies system with Chinese characteristics.
4) Service Platform
A. To provide Chinese and Bangladeshi enterprises with services in interpretation, event organization, and business consultation etc.
B. To provide information and consultation in relation with education and culture of China.
To set up a consultancy center that provides consultant services to a growing number of people aspiring to study in China, and helps establishing cooperative relations between universities in China and Bangladesh. Information on China’s education and culture, especially higher educational institutions, will be collected from China, and distributed through local print and electronic media. Education expositions and promotion programs etc. will be organized.
C. Special Training
To provide China-funded enterprises and organizations with senior–technician training services, and provide Bangladeshi students with more opportunities for higher studies and employment, through running training courses and co-hosting job fairs etc.
IV. Distinctive Features of Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka
1.Advantages
• The prestige and status that the partner universities enjoy at their respective home countries;
• The geographical advantages of Yunnan University and Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka;
• The present academic standards and experiences in operating Confucius Institute that the partner universities possess.
2. Opportunities
• The implementation of One Belt One Road strategy;
• The rising Chinese Fever in Bangladesh and world beyond;
• The increase in trade between China and Bangladesh.
3. Challenges
• The transformation of Confucius Institute under new circumstances;
• Successful operation of the Confucius Institutes with distinctiveness, high quality and standard in a city/country where other Confucius Institute and Confucius Classroom have been running for several years.
4. Distinctive Features
• Localization and specialization of Chinese language education;
• Exchanges and integration of Chinese and Bangladeshi cultures;
• Conduction of One Belt One Road country studies; Establishment of service platform.
5. Target
Confucius Institute at University of Dhaka will be build into a model Confucius Institute in South Asia that inherits Sino-Bangladesh traditional friendship, integrates Chinese language education, cultural promotion, country studies, academic exchanges, and provision of services for enterprises of the two countries.