Professional Development Courses for Confucius Institute Directors: Innovations, Experience Exchange, and International Connections

From 9 to 17 June, Lidiya Leonidovna Vetluzhskaya, Director of our Confucius Institute, participated in the international professional development courses organized by the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF) at Southwest University in Chongqing, China (a municipality directly under the central government) 12.

The program brought together 30 directors of Confucius Institutes and Classrooms from 26 countries, including Russia, Mongolia, Spain, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Malaysia, Thailand, Australia, Nigeria, Liberia, and others.

During the sessions, L. L. Vetluzhskaya presented three reports for discussion:

1. "History, Development, and Regional Specifics of the BSU Confucius Institute"

2. "Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and Interregional Cooperation"

3. "Digitalization and AI: Innovations in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language".

Participants engaged in in-depth discussions, Q&A sessions, shared management practices, and strengthened professional networks.

The program featured lectures by leading experts from diverse fields:

• Professor Zhou Ting (Communication University of China): "Global Media Positioning of Confucius Institutes";

• Professor Li Ying (Beihang University): "Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Humanities";

• Professor Xu Lihua (Zhejiang Normal University): "International Academic Collaboration from the Perspective of Overseas Directors";

• Professor Ma Qian (Southwest University): "History and Cultural Heritage of Chongqing".

Additionally, CIEF leaders and staff presented the work of the Foundation’s departments and their vision for future development and cooperation.

Upon completing the courses, L. L. Vetluzhskaya was awarded a certificate. In recognition of her outstanding contributions to Sino-foreign educational and cultural exchanges, she was also honored as an Honorary Alumnus of Southwest University, China.