Confucius
Classrooms Program
Guidelines for government schools
v.2 February 2011
What is a Confucius Classroom?
Confucius Classroom Program Activities
The aim of the Confucius Classroom Program is to
stimulate and support innovative teaching and learning of
Chinese language and culture. The program is funded by
the Office of the Chinese Language Council International
(HANBAN) and is administered in Victoria by the
Confucius Institute of the University of Melbourne. The
Confucius Classroom Program is one of the key
programs offered by the Confucius Institute (Melbourne)
to schools.
Victorian schools with the Confucius Classroom
designation will carry out activities to promote Chinese
language and culture.
A Confucius Classroom designation given to
Victorian schools signals a formal partnership with
schools in China as part of a sister school
relationship.
Examples of activities include:
•
teaching Chinese;
•
implementing Chinese language and culture
courses for the local community;
•
supporting Chinese cultural activities and/or
competitions;
•
organising student and teacher exchange
programs;
•
organising professional learning programs
related to the teaching of Chinese language and
culture;
•
facilitating the sharing of effective pedagogy for
teaching Chinese in primary and secondary
schools;
•
any China related activity or event suitable for
your school and/or the wider community.
Background
The Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development (DEECD) is committed to supporting
Victorian schools in mounting quality programs in
Chinese language and culture. To achieve this and
together with the Office of the Chinese Language Council
International (HANBAN), the DEECD is a joint partner in
the establishment of the Chinese Teacher Training
Centre (CTTC) in Victoria.
The CTTC will support the teaching and learning of
Chinese language and culture in schools by performing
four core functions namely Direct Support to Schools and
Students, Building Teacher Capacity, Resource
Development and Research. Key partners of the CTTC
are the Confucius Institute (Melbourne) and the
Melbourne Graduate School of Education. The Confucius
Classroom Program is one of the key initiatives as part of
the Direct Support to Schools and Students.
Confucius Classrooms Program
Confucius Classroom Program activities may involve
student and teacher exchange with expectations from the
partner school in China that visiting students and
teachers will be provided with appropriate
accommodation, meals and entertainment during the
periods of their stay in Australia.
1
Resourcing and funding support from
HANBAN
The Confucius Institute (Melbourne) as the local
representative of HANBAN will provide a package of
resources and teaching materials to assist teachers with
the teaching of Chinese language and culture to students
and if appropriate the local community. Funding will also
be provided by HANBAN to support the Confucius
Classroom Program activities.
The Confucius Institute (Melbourne) provides the
following services in relation to the Confucius Classroom
Program in schools:
•
Advisory
•
Provision of Intercultural training
•
Mentoring
•
Authorising body and local representative of
HANBAN
•
Long-term aims
The DEECD’s aim is that Victorian schools will have an
opportunity to access the Confucius Classroom Program
and their valuable resources. It is intended that in 2010
up to five Victorian schools will be authorised to enter
into partnerships with schools in China under the
Confucius Classroom Program.
Process of Application for Confucius
Classroom Program for Victorian government
schools
a.
Read carefully the key documents relating to the
Confucius Classroom program published by
HANBAN (see Key Documents).
b.
Establish a sister school relationship with a
school in China or strengthen an existing sister
school relationship.
HANBAN requirements of Chinese
partner school:
Provision of a support network of Confucius
Classrooms in Victoria
That the partner school has rich
international exchange experience and
enjoy good conditions for foreign reception;
The Confucius Institute (Melbourne) is responsible for
overall reporting requirements with respect to the
Victorian Confucius Classroom Program to HANBAN
headquarters. Complying with Confucius Institute
(Melbourne) reporting requirements is mandatory.
That the partner school is capable of
dispatching a certain number of volunteers
or Chinese language teachers;
Confucius Classrooms in Victoria will be required to sign
an agreement with the Confucius Institute at the
University of Melbourne.
That the partner school is located in a
county (city) level urban region.
Confucius Classroom partner schools in
China are selected by HANBAN. If you
have an existing sister school relationship,
contact the Confucius Institute at The
University of Melbourne (see Contact List)
to check the status of your sister school. If
not, you need to inform the Confucius
Institute that you are seeking a partner
school to establish a Confucius Classroom.
Resourcing and funding support from the
School
The school will need to demonstrate its level of
commitment to the Confucius Classroom Program
through resourcing relevant elements of the strategic
plan. This could include in kind staffing resources,
accommodation and tuition given to exchange students
from the partner Chinese school or administrative support
given to the Chinese language and culture programs at
the school.
The School needs to match Hanban funding 1:1 with a
cash or in kind contribution except for the one first
payment in the form of start-up fund of $US10,000 plus a
request for up to $US20,000 in equipment.
c.
Negotiate with your partner school the outcomes
of the Confucius Classroom Program for
students and staff in relation to the promotion of
Chinese language and culture (see *Notes).
School Council involvement impacts on the
school commitment to support the Chinese
language and culture and studies of Asia
programs at the school. School Council must
participate in negotiating and signing the
agreement.
d.
d.
Provide your partner school which is required to
submit a Confucius Classroom Application form
to HANBAN headquarters with complete
application documents (see details below).
Required materials for setting up Confucius
Classrooms under Confucius Institutes:
According to the current policy, the application
materials consist of two parts. The first part is the report
in a short summary from the Confucius Institute at the
University of Melbourne, and the second one is the
materials from the recommended school:
※Both the letter and the proposal are
required to be translated into Chinese
and each proposal is normally no more
than 2000 word.
Part 1, A summary report from the Institute:
(Please note: the Confucius Institute at the
University of Melbourne will require the school
to complete this section of the application)
A. The general information of Chinese language
teaching in the local community;
B. The general profile of the recommended
schools, including a brief introduction, their
distribution, selection process. If more than
three schools are recommended, please
provide a map to show their locations and
distances.
C. A brief plan of management after the
establishment of the Classrooms. (e.g. what
activities will be organised; how will the Institute
supervises the operation of the Classrooms.)
D. The commitment of each school, including
place, personnel, and matching funds.
※The above information should be very brief and
short-words, even all the key points should be
followed, but keep the words no more than 1000.
The report should be translated into Chinese and
signed by the Director and Chinese Director.
III.
Part 2, Materials from each recommended
school:
A. An application letter signed by the school
Principal. In the letter (maximum of 500
words), they need only to express their
willingness and commitment to set up a
Classroom. No more than 500 words are
needed. Please have it signed by the principal.
B. Proposal:
a. School Profile, including history, the
number of students and teachers, the
education level, and the local impact of the
school.
b. Demand for Chinese language learning
and the current situation in relation to
Chinese language teaching in the school.
c. Activities Plan for the prospective
Classroom, including Chinese language
Letter of support from DEECD.
Notes ：
A.
I.
II.
classes, cultural activities, and teacher
training programs, etc. (Note: A general
plan is sufficient. DO NOT provide detailed
schedule and daily plans.)
Commitment:
The Principal of the school must take
part in the management of the
Confucius Classroom.
The place and facilities prepared for
the Classroom.
A clear promise of matching funds.
B.
C.
D.
Please DO NOT include budgetary proposal in
the application materials. The budgetary
proposal for the start-up funds, filled in the
standard form from the Headquarters, should
be submitted AFTER the approval from the
Headquarters for setting up Classrooms under
the Institute. As for the annual project funds,
the budgetary proposal has to be submitted
every year after the establishment of the
Classrooms. Please note approval can take 3-6
months.
The funds for Confucius Classrooms consist of
two parts: the start-up funds, and the annual
project funds. The first part of start-up funds,
which are $10,000 US dollars in total, are used
for the unveiling ceremony, the purchase of
necessary office equipments and facilities, and
the decoration of the working sites.
The agreement between Confucius Institute
and the recommended schools should be
signed after approval from the Headquarters.
All the documents required should be in English
and Chinese.
Letter of Support from DEECD:
1.
Prepare a letter to the DEECD and the Confucius
Institute (Melbourne) (see Contact List below) to
a.
inform the DEECD and the Confucius Institute
(Melbourne) of the sister school relationship that
has been established with a school in China and
the joint proposal to establish a Confucius
Classroom; and
b.
request a Letter of Support from the DEECD to
be sent to HANBAN headquarters through the
Confucius Institute (Melbourne) with the
application documents. This completes the
formal application documents.
2.
Wait for HANBAN’s approval of the application. You
will be advised formally of this through the Confucius
Institute (Melbourne).
3.
Receive confirmation from the Confucius Institute
(Melbourne) that your school has a Confucius
Classroom status.
4.
Plan to hold an opening ceremony. Your partner
school in China will request that you plan an opening
ceremony to launch the Confucius Classroom and
the Confucius Institute is able to advise you on the
opening ceremony protocols. Agreement to do so
should occur only after the school has received
official notification from Confucius Institute
(Melbourne) that the school has been granted
Confucius Classroom status with appropriate funding
support and approval of the strategic plans of the
partner schools involved. The ceremony can include
the signing of the “Agreement on the Joint
Establishment of a Confucius Classroom” (see Key
Documents).
5.
6.
Seek advice on visa application for any staff from
China related to the Confucius Classroom Program.
A staff member from the partner school in China may
be made available. The selection of this individual
should be a matter for discussion and negotiation.
Visa requirements related to entry and length of stay
of this staff member need to be carefully managed to
ensure compliance with the immigration legislation.
Inform the Region, the LOTE Unit and the Chinese
Consulate in Melbourne that your school has been
granted a Confucius Classroom status and provide a
copy of your strategic plan to your Region as a
description of the activities proposed to be delivered.
Further inquiries can be made using the contact list
below.
Contact List
Barbara Hilder
Director
Confucius Institute, The University of Melbourne
172 Bouverie Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: 03 9035 8203
Email: b.hilder@unimelb.edu.au
Julia Gong
Confucius Classroom Coordinator
Confucius Institute, The University of Melbourne
172 Bouverie Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: 03 9035 8205
Email: jgong@unimelb.edu.au
Paul Sheahan
Confucius Classroom Coordinator
Confucius Institute, The University of Melbourne
172 Bouverie Street, Carlton VIC 3053
Phone: 0419 368 002
Email: psheahan@unimelb.edu.au
Connie Andreana
LOTE Manager
Department of Education and Early Childhood
Development
Level 2, 33 St Andrews Place, Melbourne VIC 3001
Phone: 03 9637 2043
Email: andreana.connie.c@edumail.vic.gov.au
Yuntong Wang
Consul (Education)
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in
Melbourne
14 Selborne Road, Toorak VIC 3142
Phone: 03 9827 6113
Email: wangyuntong@gmail.com
PROFORMA AGREEMENT EXAMPLE
Article 3 Management and Operation
With the Confucius Classroom operating as its project,
AGREEMENT BETWEEN
CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE at [
the Confucius Institute at [
] AND
] shall be responsible for
the management of the Confucius Classroom, including
developing annual activity plans, budgets and final
[school name]
accountings for the Confucius Classroom and submitting
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF
to the Headquarters for approval. Confucius Institute
THE CONFUCIUS CLASSROOM AT [school name]
should
also
report
to
the
Confucius
Institute
Headquarters concerning the operation of Confucius
Classroom on a regular basis.
To strengthen the role of Confucius Institute in providing
The Confucius Classroom shall be launched for full
social
operation within a year upon the signing of this
service
to
the
local
community,
developing
Chinese teaching and learning in local elementary and
secondary
schools,
and
enhancing
the
agreement.
mutual
Article 4 Obligations
understanding and friendship between young people of
both countries, Confucius Institute at [
] and [school
The obligations of Confucius Institute shall include:
name] after friendly consultation and approved by the
Headquarters, hereby agree on establishing [school
1. To apply to the Headquarters for authorisation of using
name] Confucius Classroom, as follows,:
the title “Confucius Classroom”, provide logos and
Confucius Classroom emblems.
Article 1 Character
2. To apply to the Headquarters for necessary start-up
The Confucius Classroom at [school name] shall be a
fund and a set amount of annual fund according to needs
non-profit institution with the purpose of enhancing
of the Confucius Classroom, and provide equipments for
understanding and friendship between the young people
teaching and cultural activities.
of China and [country name] by sponsoring the teaching
and learning of Chinese language and culture.
3. To apply to the Headquarters for 1,000 volumes of
books,
audio-visual,
courseware,
Article 2 Scope of Activities
Based on local realities, the Confucius Classroom at
[school name] can conduct the following programs and
other activities related to Chinese language and culture:
and
for
multimedia
authorisation
materials
of
using
and
online
courses.
4. To apply to the Headquarters for a certain number of
Chinese instructors and/or volunteers according to needs
of the Confucius Classroom. The Headquarters will pay
for their airfare and salaries.
1. Conducting Chinese teaching programs and Chinese
Test for Young Learners (YCT).
5. To assist the Chinese party in dealing with the entry
procedures.
2. Training local Chinese language instructors;
3. Organising exchange programs between local and
Chinese elementary and secondary school students;
4. Conducting activities related to Chinese language and
culture.
The obligations of [school name] shall include:
1. To have the principal or vice-principal takes charge of
the Confucius Classroom directly；
2. To provide an appropriate site for teaching and office
Article 7 Effective Date
space for the Confucius Classroom; to provide necessary
facilities
and
take
charge
of
their
instalment,
management and maintenance.
The Agreement shall come into force upon the date it is
signed.
3. To make nameplate of Confucius Classroom according
to the requirement of the Headquarters, and hang it at the
gate of the school or an obvious place of the building in
which the Confucius Classroom is located.
Confucius Institute at [
4. To provide necessary administrative personnel for the
Director
]
Confucius Classroom and provide related payment; and
to open a special account for the Confucius Classroom.
5. To provide necessary living and working conditions for
the Chinese staff.
Article 5 Financial Support
1. According to the application from Confucius Institute,
the Headquarters will provide a certain amount of start-up
fund to the Confucius Classroom；
2. After the Headquarters approve the annual activity
plans, the Headquarters and the Confucius Classroom
hosting school shall jointly raise the project fund.
Article 6 Intellectual Property
The Confucius Institute Headquarters owns the title of
“The Confucius Classroom”, its related logo, and plaque
(or badge) as its exclusive intellectual property. [school
name] shall not continue applying or transferring the title,
logo, and plaque (or badge) in any form, either directly or
indirectly, after this agreement has been terminated.
Date:
Date:
[school name]