NORTHERN TODAY 6 SPRING 2015 THIS WAS AN IMPORTANT, if not monumental, step for the university, said NSU President Dr. James Smith. “This will be an opportunity that we won’t forget for many years to come,” Smith said. About 75 people – including local and state dignitaries as well as members of the campus community – attended the Confucius Institute Signing Ceremony. At the event, held in the NSU Beulah Williams Library, Smith and University of Jinan President Dr. Xin Cheng signed documents and unveiled an official Confucius Institute sign. Cheng said the University of Jinan is located in the hometown of Confucius, immersed in Confucius culture and Chinese tradition. “In compliance with Confucius’ policy that ‘Harmony comes first’ and ‘Harmony without Uniformity,’ University of Jinan will conduct close communication with Northern State University, offer necessary resources to support the Confucius Institute, and provide convenience for Chinese language learners at the local community and regions around Aberdeen,” he said. Other guests from the University of Jinan were Mr. Jun Wang, director of Finance and Accounting Department; Dr. Guoxin Sun, dean of School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering; Mr. Jianbo Yu, director of Culture Center; and Ms. Ruixue Miao, program officer, International Affairs. Cheng also introduced Chen Yan, associate director of the Confucius Institute at NSU, who said she is honored to be part of the ceremony, and proud to be working at the Confucius Institute. “Serving as a role of culture messenger, I promise I will work together with the colleagues of NSU to promote the healthy and sustainable development of the Confucius Institute,” Yan said. Also speaking at the event was South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard, who congratulated NSU on the first Confucius Institute in the Dakotas. Daugaard said he visited Jinan during one of his trade missions to China and said he was grateful for the wonderful hospitality he was shown. “I’m grateful to the University of Jinan and to President Cheng for partnering with Northern State University to make the Confucius Institute a reality,” he said. The skills that NSU students will gain from the Confucius Institute will allow them to compete anywhere in the world, particularly in China, Daugaard said. “The Confucius Institute will also help our two nations build language and cultural bridges that provide mutual benefits of international trade and tourism,” he said. Xu Lin, Confucius Institute Headquarters chief executive, sent a letter of congratulations to Northern State University. “I believe that, through our joint efforts, the Confucius Institute will become an important window for the people from South Dakota, even from the whole nation, to learn about China and Chinese culture,” Lin wrote. Attendees of the April event listened to musical performances by NSU students, viewed Chinese items in the library’s new cultural center; and watched a calligraphy demonstration by Yu, one of China’s most talented calligraphers. Instruction through the NSU Confucius Institute will start this fall. Housed in Lincoln Hall, the institute will offer courses in Mandarin language. There are also plans to offer programs in Chinese culture and business, and to deliver courses online to college level and high school students. Earlier Friday, the Jinan guests toured the Center for Statewide E-learning, which is housed at Northern State University. Smith said NSU will have new students and faculty exchanges because of this partnership. Northern will also have three visiting scholars this summer, for a total of four staff from the University of Jinan on campus. The Confucius Institute will also lead to community enrichment and a deeper understanding of Chinese culture, he said. “We will grasp every opportunity available to us, and we will grasp it with gusto,” Smith said. NORTHERN NEWS Northern State University holds Confucius Institute Signing Ceremony Northern State University finalized its partnership with the University of Jinan, China, on Friday, April 10, officially establishing a Confucius Institute on campus.
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