On the afternoon of November 16, the Chinese International Education Foundation(CIEF) hosted the "Social Support and Partnership Collaboration: Building a Win-Win CI Ecosystem" Roundtable Discussion of the 2024 World Chinese Language Conference at the China National Convention Center.
The session was co-moderated by Zhong Yinghua, President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching(ISCLT), and Prof. Francis Mulaa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, &Enterprise(RIE) at the University of Nairobi, Kenya.
Distinguished guests included Wang Shangxue, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute(CI) at the University of Nairobi; Luis Antonio Paulino, Brazilian Director of the CI at São Paulo State University; Niphaphone KANNHAVONG, Lao Vice Director of the CI at the National University of Laos; Benoît Billaud, CI Chair of Loire, France, and Deputy Mayor of Angers; Lilian Espinoza, Chinese Director of the CI at the University of Santo Tomás in Chile; Zhang Lili, Deputy Director of the Division of Fundraising and Public Relations, CIEF; Li Peize, Chairman and General Manager of Chinese Testing International (Beijing) Co., Ltd., and Supervisor of CIEF; Hao Yun, Chairman of Beijing Language and Culture University Press; Chen Xiaoli, Deputy General Manager of the Overseas Branch of China Huadian Engineering Co., Ltd. and Director of General Energy Bali in Indonesia; Fu Xiaoping, Vice President of Fujian Chunlun Group; Chen Zhiwei, Dean of the Chinese International Education College/Overseas Education College at Xiamen University; Zhao Xiaohui, Secretary-General of the Xiamen University Education Development Foundation; and Zhao Guanjun, President of China Philanthropy Times. They exchange ideas on "Case Studies Sharing of Confucius Institutes' Collaboration with Enterprises and Non-Governmental Organizations(NGOs) to Support Local Development", "The Chinese International Education Foundation’s Role in Mobilizing Social Forces to Support CI Development", and "How Enterprises and NGOs Can Achieve Self-Development While Supporting CI Building through Collaboration with CIEF" and other topics, and explored models and expectations for fostering cooperation between academic institutions and enterprises, as well as the role of philanthropy in CI advancement.
At the venue, representatives from several CIs, global enterprises, university foundations, and philanthropic media gathered to discuss cooperation and jointly create a win-win CI ecosystem.
The CI ecosystem revolves around the institutes themselves, with the CIEF, Chinese and foreign hosts, and external partners jointly contributing to its development., serving CI students and Chinese language learners all over the world. The Foundation manages and operates CIs through brand authorization, providing macro guidance on a global scale. Chinese and foreign hosts are the primary bodies responsible for co-building and co-managing CIs while enjoying and sharing educational achievements. External partners play an indispensable role in sustaining the ecosystem. The CIEF invites more enterprises and NGOs to join the CI ecosystem, thereby fostering a strong force in global public welfare participation and becoming valuable partners in CI development. Enterprises can engage with the CIEF through project support, conference donations, co-branding, and special funds, contributing to the global cause of Chinese language education. Therefore, they will enhance their corporate image within both domestic and international education networks, create a widespread impact, and exponentially amplify social benefits.
