September 2, 2005 Source: British Columbia Institute of Technology:
http://www.bcit.ca/news/releases/newsrelease090205299.shtml BCIT Awarded First Confucius Institute in Canada Burnaby - BCIT has been awarded the first - and so far the only - Confucius Institute in Canada. Initiated by China's National Office for Teaching Chinese, as a Foreign Language, the Confucius Institute is part of China's national plan to expand its economy by assisting people worldwide in understanding the language and culture to increase both trade and tourism. The goal is to create 100 Confucius Institutes around the world and to associate these with post-secondary institutions in large urban areas by 2010. Dr. Lawrence Gu, the Chief Operating Officer of the TTA Technology Training Associates Ltd., the wholly owned subsidiary of BCIT, will assume the overall responsibilities for the set-up and the operation of the Confucius Institute at BCIT. "This is a vote of trust in BCIT by the Chinese government, based on the successes we have achieved in polytechnic education in China," says Lawrence. The Confucius Institute will be located on the eighth floor of BCIT's Downtown Campus. It is scheduled to open sometime in the fall 2005. "We are very excited about being chosen as the first Canadian site for the Confucius Institute," says BCIT President Tony Knowles. "It positions us even more strongly in terms of our various activities in Asia, gives us additional exposure to the private sector, and will help raise the profile of BCIT overall." Media may contact BCIT Media Relations 604. 432.8773
| 