Confucius Institute

In reply to the Hon. I.K. HUNTER (1 August 2019).

The Hon. J.S. LEE: I have written to the Office of the Vice-Chancellor and President at the University of Adelaide. Subsequently, the University of Adelaide acted cooperatively and provided me with a copy of the contract. This is given to me in confidence from the University of Adelaide and not for public disclosure. 

I have been advised that the Confucius Institute is a small unit that sits in the School of Social Sciences in the Faculty of Arts. Furthermore, the Confucius Institute director is a full-time employee of the University of Adelaide, who reports to the Head of Social Sciences.

The University of Adelaide advised me that unlike the Confucius Institute model operating at some Australian universities, South Australian students are not enrolled in or taught through the Confucius Institute. Instead, students who are studying Chinese language at the University of Adelaide do so through courses offered by the Department of Asian Studies within the University. Teaching content and quality are determined solely by the University of Adelaide.

In addition, I have been advised that under the contractual agreement, the director of the Confucius Institute is responsible for all activities and events of the Confucius Institute, and academic control of all approved activities of the Confucius Institute sits with the University of Adelaide.