Official Opening of the Confucius Institute at 180 Waterloo Place
29 September 2016
Celebrations on Wednesday, 21 September 2016.
On Wednesday 21st September 2016, the Confucius Institute celebrated the move to its newly refurbished four-storey listed building by cutting the ribbon and welcoming guests into 180 Waterloo Place.
The building was officially opened by Dr Ma Jianfei, Deputy Director of Hanban and Professor Keith Brown, Vice President, University of Manchester 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 10th 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.”