Hanban provides a $150,000 USD grant for the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ulster

Project narrative

On July 14, 2011, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the University of Ulster signed an agreement establishing the Confucius Institute at University of Ulster. Per the agreement, Hanban agreed to provide a grant of a $150,000 USD start-up fund, 3,000 volumes of Chinese teaching materials, and numbers of Chinese instructors. The institute was established in cooperation with Zhejiang University of Media and Communications. In December 2011, the University of Ulster also signed three agreements with Hubei Normal University to enroll teachers from Hubei Province at the University of Ulster, to develop Confucius Classrooms, and to develop a virtual Confucius classroom. Hubei Normal University has become the primary cooperating institution for the institute. On April 13, 2012, an unveiling ceremony officially marked the opening of the Confucius Institute at the University of Ulster. Officials from Zhejiang University of Media and Communication and the University of Ulster were in attendance. As a gift, 6,000 Chinese teaching materials and a set of Chinese culture experience equipment were donated by Hanban and Zhejiang Publishing Group. In December 2016, the institute won the Confucius Institute of the Year award. The institute is the first and only Confucius Institute to be opened in Northern Ireland. The Confucius Institute at the Ulster University oversaw the following 8 Confucius Classrooms: - ID#90728: Aquinas Grammar School - ID#90734: Grosvenor Grammar School - ID#90736: Bangor Academy - ID#90740: Millburn Primary School - ID#90750: Downshire Community School - ID#90751: Lumen Christi College - ID#90753: St Columb's College - ID#90754: South West College