Introduction

The Confucius Institute for Innovation & Learning, which was inaugurated in September 2009, is a non-profit culture institution financed by the Chinese Minsitry of Education and Aalborg University, which aims at promoting Chinese language and culture and supporting local Chinese teaching internationally through affiliated Confucius Institutes. The Confucius Institute in Aalborg also facilitates business contacts between Denmark and China. The Confucius Institute headquarter is in Beijing and is under the Office of Chinese Language Council International or Hanban（汉办）.

As of December 2011, there are 358 Confucius Institutes in 82 countries and regions. The Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China estimates that there are approximately 100 million non-Chinese worldwide learning Chinese as a foreign language and it plans to set up 500 Confucius Institutes worldwide by 2015.

What does the Confucius Institute in Aalborg do?

Teaching activities:

Courses in Chinese language and culture at primary, middle and high schools in Northern Denmark.

Courses in Chinese language, culture, society and history at Aalborg University.

Courses in Chinese culture and language and business Chinese at the Open University Aalborg.

Outreach to industry:

Facilitates collaboration and business contacts between Danish and Chinese companies in the medical sector.

Facilitates cooperation between Aalborg University and Aalborg Hospital and Chinese universities and hospitals.

Research:

The Confucius Institute conducts research in teaching methods, intercultural communication and collaboration.