Partners
Chongqing Normal University
Chongqing Normal University (CQNU) is a leading teacher education university in China, offering a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. With over 35,000 students, CQNU has a strong international focus, promoting cultural exchange through global partnerships, including its collaboration with Edge Hill University.
The University has partnered with multiple foreign universities for the establishment of Confucius Institutes around the world. Edge Hill University is among these. It seeks to establish a cooperative spirit and an exchange of cultural ideas as much as possible. This exchange of ideas comes from over 20 countries and currently has over 400 international students to reflect this.
Staff
Strategic Priorities
University Students and Staff
The Confucius Institute enhances the student and staff experience by providing Mandarin language classes, cultural workshops and public events across all faculties. It enhances careers and employability through developing intercultural skills and language training and facilitates international exchange and scholarship opportunities in partnership with Chongqing Normal University.
Schools and Education
The Institute supports primary, secondary schools and further education colleges through Mandarin language and cultural provision, ranging from one-off activity sessions to sustained programmes. This includes encouraging pupil engagement with Mandarin language learning and taking recognised qualifications as well as exposure to Chinese culture and art.
Community Engagement
The Confucius Institute actively engages the local and regional community through inclusive, accessible activities focused on Chinese language, culture and the arts. These include public workshops, performances, film screenings and cultural celebrations, helping to raise awareness and understanding of both traditional and contemporary Chinese culture.
Business Support
The Institute supports local and regional businesses working with China by offering practical Mandarin language training and Chinese cultural awareness sessions. This provision helps organisations communicate more confidently, understand professional and cultural expectations, and build stronger working relationships with Chinese partners.
Partnerships and Delivery
Provision is flexible and responsive, delivered in collaboration with university colleagues, schools, community organisations, local businesses, Centre for Language Education and Co-operation (CLEC) and Chongqing Normal University. Effective partnership is central to the Institute’s capacity to reach diverse audiences and sustain high-quality, impactful delivery across all strategic priority areas.
Impact
Through these combined strands of activity, the Confucius Institute contributes to internationalisation, employability, cultural enrichment and the university’s civic and global engagement ambitions.