The director of the Confucius Institute and associate professor of Aalborg University, Du Xiangyun has recently given a lecture with the title "Confucianism and the Chinese School System".

The 15-minute lecture gives the viewer a brief introduction to Confucian thought and how it has influenced Asian culture in general and Chinese in particular. This is followed by an overview of the Chinese schooling system, which can be described as a very confucianistic one, with its positive and negative sides.

The lecture is part of "Danskernes Akademi" (The Academy of the Danes), which is a ongoing series of lectures by scholars from Danish universities on a multitude of topics. "Danskernes Akademi" is both broadcasted on TV and online. Please click on the following link to view the lecture:

Link to Lecture on Confuciuanism

On October 25 - 27 the 4th Sino-Nordic Gender and Women's Studies Conference was held at Aalborg University, co-organised by the Confucius Institute Aalborg, NIAS (Nordic Institute of Asian Studies), and Aalborg University.

The theme of the fourth Sino-Nordic Women’s and Gender Studies’ Conference was: "Travelling Theories within the Context of Globalisation. Transnational Feminism and Knowledge Production". The general conference theme was selected by the joint organization committee of Nordic and Chinese scholars.

The main emphasis was on theories and knowledge production in China and the Nordic countries. One of the objectives is to discuss developments and innovations in feminist theories and knowledge production in China and the Nordic countries from a historical and interdisciplinary perspective. The focus is on similarities and differences looking at how traveling theories are influenced by the different contexts in terms of welfare, democracy, and civil society actors, as well as by the activities of transnational feminisms.

On 26th August, 2011, eight teachers from different departments of Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT) took part in a seminar, which ran throughout most of September, on Pedagogic Innovation in the Higher Education Development Programme at Aalborg University.

The first two weeks consisted mainly on a number of lectures on different theories on teaching and learning, while the remaining two weeks were spend on designing teaching experiments in groups, in order to achieve a better understanding of the PBL model (“Problem Based Learning”), which is the most important learning and teaching theory at Aalborg University. The month-long seminar is based on a 5-year Collaboration agreement between GDUT and Aalborg University.

Since August 1st a new colleague has joined the team of the Confucius Institute Aalborg. His name is Mads Jakob Kirkebæk, Ph.D. in Chinese Studies from Copenhagen University. Before joining AAU, Mads has been working at Roskilde University Center for a number of years and has been conducting research in foreign language acquisition.

Mads will be working as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Learning and Philosophy. On the research side he will do research on new and innovative methods of teaching Chinese language to foreigners. Furthermore, he is also lecture on Chinese Culture, Society and History at AAU.

The whole CI-team warmly welcomes Mads to Aalborg University.

Seminar on ‘cross-cultural study on creativity and innovation development – a perspective from China’
By Professor Jiannong Shi, Chinese Academy of Sciences

Organized by IC Learning, Department of Learning and Philosophy

Time: 13:00 – 16:00 Tuesday August 23rd (including a reception)
Location: Fibigerstræde 10, Aalborg University, 007

Please register to xin@learning.aau.dk for your participation in the seminar and reception by Friday August 22nd.

Brief introduction to the guest lecturer:
Professor Jiannong Shi , professor, director of Research Center for Supernormal (G/T) Children at the Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He also serves as the president of Asia-Pacific Federation of WCGTC, a committee member of the International Research Association for Talent Development and Excellence, and editor-in-chief of Talent Development and Excellence.

His research work focuses in the field of giftedness and creativity theoretically and practically. He and his team conducted a series cognitive and neuropsychological experiments on cognitive development and brain function of gifted children. Meanwhile, he developed a bio-socio-psycho- model to guide gifted education and creativity cultivation in kindergarten, primary, and secondary schools in China. He authored (or co-authored) 11 books in the field of child development and gifted education, as well as more than 130 journal articles and book chapters since 1990.

Prof. Shi had work experiences at University of Munich, University of Michigan, Yale University, University of Adelaide, and Regensburg University. With these rich international experiences, he is currently leading several international students exchange programs for creativity development, in particular, students exchange between Germany and China.

China-Day

13.00, May 9, 2011
Kroghstræde 3, Aud. 1.104
In celebration of the joint master program between Aalborg University and University of International Relations, Beijing

(Jointly organized by School for Culture and Global Studies, AAU-Confucius Institute, and University of International Relations)

10-11 Meeting between the UIR delegation and AAU’s Vice Rector Inger Askehave
11- 12 Walking and visiting the campus

12 Lunch

13.00 Welcome by Vice Rector Inger Askehave

13.05 Agreement signature: (the corresponding leaders from both sides).

13.10 The importance of educational cooperation between Denmark and China – by the Chinese Embassy

13.30 Introduction of UIR and What UIR will offer for the curriculum year when students are studying at UIR – by UIR delegation

14.00 Study programs at School for Culture and Global Studies: Globalization and the significance of cross-cultural exchange by Malene Gram, head of School for Culture and Global Studies

14.30 Coffee break

15.00 “China Today and Tomorrow”, presentation by Carsten Boyer Thøgersen, former
Consul-General in Shanghai and Guangzhou and Head of Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs

16.00 End of programme

18.30 Dinner in Aalborg for the Chinese guests, AAU Rector Finn Kjærsdam and invited AAU-staff.

China Day

Friday the 4th of February, the board and the CI staff at the Confucian Institute were gathered to discuss the goals and the future of the Institute. Chinese dumplings were served together with some drinks and snacks. The dumplings turned out to be a great success. The room was decorated in honour of the occasion and the Chinese New Year that is being celebrated these days.

welcome drinkXiangyun presentsFinn, the rector of AAU in the meetingboard memeberspeople enjoy the dumpling

CI spring program for 2011

See attached

Series of Activities in the Spring Festival of 2011

See attached

Seminar: “the Retrospect and Outlook of Eastern and Western Relation”

On 7th, Oct, 2010, the seminar: “the Retrospect and Outlook of Eastern and Western Relation” was held by the Confucius Institute for Innovation and Learning at AAU and the Youth Organazition of Social Democratic Party in Denmark. Prof, Li Xing, Research Centre on Development and International Relations, was invited to be the lecturer. Based on the historical thread of the China social development, Prof, Li Xing analyzed the social phenomenon of China around the foundation of the New China, deeply discussesd the present China development and its influence in the world as well. The seminar lasted for two hours, Prof, Li Xing was greatly appreciated by th participants due to his humorous style and his accurate answer.