A Global Internationalization Experiment of Chinese Universities: Models, Experiences, Challenges and Prospects of Confucius Institutes’ First Decade

Abstract

As the largest international cooperation in education in human history and the largest internationalization project of Chinese universities, Confucius Institutes (CIs) have been adventurous in their first decade by 2014. Based on 27 CIs as cases for a comparative study from 15 countries in six continents, this paper focused on CIs’ developmental models and experiences in both developed and developing countries, and their significance in the internationalization process of Chinese University 3.0 and the development of civilizations in this world. It is found that CIs’ experiences over their first decade have not been only limited to Chinese language teaching and cultural promotion, but have also been a Chinese Model that dynamically promotes education and the diversity of human development and civilization in a new stage full of peace, mutuality and partnership. The Chinese Model has actively borne the responsibility to boost the exchange and dialogue among civilizations for global peace. CIs’ experiences and lessons are helpful for international collaboration and development through education, and can contribute to such international agencies for development as the UNESCO and the World Bank. The empirical findings from this research have multiple policy implications for CIs’ future development, internationalization of Chinese universities, and the diversification and advancement of global civilizations in the age of globalization.

截至2014年底,人類歷史上最大規模的國際教育合作以及中國大學歷史上最大規模的國際化項目——孔子學院已經走過了十年的歷程。通過選取全球6大洲15個國家27所孔子學院的案例,以第一手實證數據揭示其發展模式、經驗和挑戰、在發達國家與發展中國家間的運作差異、以及在中國大學3.0走向國際化乃至世界文明發展中的深遠意義。孔子學院的十年發展意義并不只是局限于在全球的漢語教學與中國文化推廣,還在于是一個積極推動教育與人類文明多元發展、雙向合作的中國模式,真正體現了和平、合作和平等的新境界。這一模式積極承擔和發揚了不同文明之間交流和對話的和平使命,為孔子學院的進一步發展,為中國大學的國際合作和教育發展,甚至對于聯合國教科文組織、世界銀行等國際發展機構都提供了積極的借鑒意義。