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Confucius Institute opens at 180 Waterloo Place

26 Sep 2016

Special guests cut the ribbon on unique learning space – with peaceful Chinese garden

Confucius Institute opening

The Confucius Institute has moved to a newly refurbished home in the four-storey listed building, 180 Waterloo Place.

The building was officially opened by Dr Ma Jianfei, Deputy Director of Hanban, Professor Keith Brown, Vice President and Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, and Chair of CI Board and Consul Wang Ying from the Education Section of the Chinese Consulate General in Manchester.

Located right in the centre of the Oxford Road University Corridor, the building offers ample office space for its staff and unique learning spaces for its students. The Institute will be able to conduct online HSK tests in a designated testing room as well as one-to-one tutorial rooms and hi-spec training rooms. There is also a peaceful Chinese garden where staff and students can take some time out and relax. 

The Institute is also delighted to announce that it has been awarded the status of a ‘Model Confucius Institute’ by Hanban, one of only four within the UK. The special plaque was unveiled as part of the opening ceremony and there will be an official award ceremony in China in December.

Dr Aaron Moore, Academic Director of Manchester University’s Confucius Institute, said: “2016 is a year of celebration as the Confucius Institute is entering its tenth year of operation.

“Opening this new office signifies how the University sees the institute’s relationship with academic research and networking is beginning to change as we are going into the next phase of its presence. And here it plays a supporting role for researchers who are engaged in projects related to China.

“For me, one of the important things that the Confucius Institute will do going forward, is to see itself as a facilitator for ongoing research projects in the short term, whether that is logistically or financially.”

The Confucius Institute is opening its doors and is welcoming everyone to come and explore China during its Free Taster Week, Monday, 3 to Friday, 7 October.