On the afternoon of September 20, the 11th Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute jointly established by China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) and Bangor University in the UK was successfully held. The meeting was conducted in a hybrid format, combining online and offline participation. Bangor University’s Pro Vice Chancellor Andrew Edwards and CUPL Vice Presidents Li Shuangchen and Lu Chunlong attended the meeting, which was chaired by Andrew Edwards.
(Andrew Edwards presiding over the meeting)
Andrew Edwards began by expressing his gratitude to CUPL for their warm hospitality and recognized the significant role the CI has played. He emphasized Bangor University’s commitment to its partnership with CUPL and expressed eagerness to deepen cooperation in areas such as talent development, academic collaboration, social service, and environmental sustainability.
(Lu Chunlong speaking, photo by Yin Jianfeng)
In his remarks, Lu Chunlong reflected on the achievements of the CI over the past 12 years, particularly in promoting language and cultural exchange, academic collaboration between the two universities, and fostering bilateral ties. He extended his sincere thanks to Bangor University for its support and to the Chinese and British directors of the CI for their hard work. Lu also expressed hope that the CI would continue to innovate, offering more activities that benefit both universities’ faculty and students, while enhancing cultural exchanges. He looked forward to elevating the cooperation between the two institutions through more frequent and in-depth academic exchanges.
(Li Shuangchen speaking, photo by Yin Jianfeng)
During the meeting, the board introduced changes to its members and welcomed the new appointees. Li Shuangchen, speaking on behalf of the newly appointed Chinese board members, reaffirmed CUPL’s strong commitment to the development of CIs abroad and the importance of active communication with its partners. He noted that the annual board meeting serves as a vital platform for dialogue and collaboration, expressing optimism for the continued deepening of ties between the two universities and the achievement of even more fruitful results through the Confucius Institute.
Following the agenda, the Board reviewed and approved the minutes of the previous Board session. Xu Dan, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, and Lina Davitt, the British Director, presented a summary of the past year’s work, the upcoming year’s plan, and the annual budget. The board reviewed and approved these reports and engaged in extensive discussions on further advancing the development of the CI, including promoting teacher exchanges, student exchange programs, and joint research. Consensus was reached on these topics.
(Group photo at the meeting, photo by Yin Jianfeng)
The meeting concluded successfully., with other attendees including Gwenan Hine, Director of the Bangor University Vice Chancellor’s Office; Peter Shapely, Dean of the College of History, Law, and Social Sciences; Eben Muse, Dean of Global Engagement in the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences; Sam Jackson-Royle, Director of International Affairs; Li Juqian, Director of CUPL's Office of International Cooperation and Exchange; Kong Qingjiang, Dean of the School of International Law; and Li Dandan, Director of the Confucius Institute Office at CUPL.
