Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen UniversityResource:CHINA-ASEAN EDUCATION INFORMATION NETWORK
Time:2009-03-05 01:03:04
Introduction Khon Kaen University (KKU) foresaw the rapidly increasing demands for Chinese language study of the people in the northeast of Thailand. With its aims to strengthen educational cooperation between China and Thailand, to support and promote the development of Chinese language education, and to increase mutual understanding between the people of China and Thailand, together with the support from The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Thailand, the agreement was signed between KKU and Southwest University (SWU) for the cooperation for Confucius Institute in March 2006, and the agreement between KKU and The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban) for the establishment of the Confucius Institute at KKU was signed on May 24, 2006. On August 3rd, 2006, Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University held its opening ceremony and began its operation, which has become the first one who functions before other Confucius Institutes in Thailand.
The Confucius Institute at Khon Kaen University is a non-profit institute with the purpose of enhancing intercultural understanding between Thai and Chinese people by sponsoring courses of Chinese language and culture. With the authorization and appointment from The Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban), Beijing, People’s Republic of China, KKU and Southwest University (SWU) are committed to collaborate on the establishment of the Confucius Institute at KKU and to execute the Institute’s activities to achieve its goals.
Khon Kaen is the hub for the northeast region of Thailand, which covers the largest land and population of the country. Due to its geographical location and the well developed transportation infrastructure, public utility systems, and technological development, Khon Kaen has become the center for the Mekong River sub-region. In addition, Khon Kaen is the core for academic institutions and trainings of the region especially at high school and university level.
Khon Kaen University is the national leading educational and learning center for the northeast region of Thailand and is the oldest and largest university in the region, with the greatest number of students and programs. KKU has worked closely with more than 1,500 high schools in the region on teacher training programs. Furthermore, KKU has developed collaboration with neighboring countries, especially the countries of Indo-China. Therefore, the Confucius Institute at KKU will serve as a center for Chinese language teaching, training and cultural studies in the northeast region of Thailand as well as the Mekong River sub-region.
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