UNS – Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta will have a Chinese Language Center (Confucius Institute (CI). To realize the establishment of the Chinese Language Center, UNS collaborates with CI Headquarters of China (Hanban) and Xihua University as a partner of UNS. During the visit to Xihua University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China on Monday (9/17/2018), the Rector of UNS Ravik Karsidi was accompanied by Vice Rector of Planning and Cooperation UNS, Widodo Muktiyo, Dean of the Faculty of Cultural Sciences (FIB) Riyadi Santosa and some lecturers from FIB UNS. The team from UNS was welcomed by the Rector of Xihua University Liu Qingyou accompanied by the Advisor Bian Huimin.
Riyadi Santosa said that it was the third times to visit China. The first visit was made last year to Shanghai University to collaborate on the establishment of CI in UNS. By the time Shanghai University agreed then it was proposed to Hanban, the world holder of CI. Finally on February last year, UNS was agreed to collaborate with Xihua University because Shanghai University has already collaborated with other universities.
Riyadi continued, in last March International Office Officer and Vice Rector of Xihua University visited UNS to see the infrastructure (building) that would later be used as CI office. Chinese language center is not available in Central Java and DIY so it becomes the reason to establish CI in UNS. In addition, there are many Thionghoa descendants in the city of Solo. The establishment process is quite fast, which only took four months. During the visit to Xihua University, the committee discussed about the time of the establishment of CI, the composition of the board of directors, CI’s executive structure, startup funding, annual funding, and CI launching.
According to the plan, CI will be inaugurated on March 11 next year. Hanban has provided startup funds of Rp.2.2 billion for the completeness of infrastructure and facilities in CI building. Moreover amounting to Rp 100,000 US dollars will be funded for next each year.
After later being inaugurated, the existence of CI is used not only for Diploma Program of Mandarin students, but also the entire UNS academic community even the public who want to learn Mandarin and its culture. Thus, this can be the students’ preparation who want to study further in China. FIB UNS also plans to open a Chinese Language Study Program, Riyadi added.
In the future, collaboration with Xihua University is not merely for the establishment of CI. After collaboration with FIB, next project could be with the Faculty of Engineering (FT) because Xihua University already had a Teaching Factory for the production of electric cars, then the Faculty of Agriculture (FP) and the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Riyadi ended. humas-red.uns/Ath/Dty
