Denpasar- The Balingkang Confucius Institute at Ganesha University of Education (Undiksha) in collaboration with the Confucius Institute at Sebelas Maret University (UNS) held the first Confucius Institute International Academic Conference in Southeast Asia on May 9-12, 2024. The conference, which took place in Bali, carried the theme “Localization, Internationalization, and Modernization of Education in the Context of China-Southeast Asia Cultural Exchange in the Era of Digital Intelligence”. More than 100 people attended the meeting online and offline.
At the opening ceremony, the Vice-Rector of Sebelas Maret University, Prof. Ahmad Yunus and the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs and Cooperation of Ganesha University of Education, Prof. Dr. Gede Rasben Dantes, each delivered an opening speech and welcoming remarks for the conference, emphasizing the importance of this joint conference as a space to exchange ideas and concepts.
The conference was divided into three sub-forums, namely Chinese Teaching and Research, Indigenous Teaching Materials and Methods, and China-Southeast Asia Culture. There were 19 speakers from China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, and the Philippines invited. Combining their respective research fields and focusing on the theme, experts had in-depth exchanges and discussions on the cutting-edge issues in Chinese international education and cultural exchange and mutual benefit. In addition, 39 young scholars online and offline also took the role of speakers and gave presentations.
The conference specially invited Prof. Shao Yi from Jinan University, Dr. Zhu Minxia from Balingkang Confucius Institute of Ganesha University of Education, and Dr. Ye Junjie from MARA Technology University in Malaysia to be Moderators. The outstanding papers selected at the conference based on expert review will be selectively published in the international journal “MANARINABLE” of Confucius Institute of Sebelas Maret University.
The conference provided a good platform for in-depth dialogue on the theory and practice of Chinese international education. Most of the young scholars are Chinese language teachers in Southeast Asian countries. The conference showcased the latest issues and ideas in teaching Chinese in various countries from various perspectives, inspiring teachers. The successful holding of the conference received strong support from Chinese and foreign partner institutions, namely the Confucius Institute at Sebelas Maret University, Balingkang Confucius Institute, Xihua University and Xinyang Normal University, as well as Sebelas Maret University and Ganesha University of Education. The commitment to cooperate in this academic activity will lay a solid foundation for multi-faceted and in-depth cooperation in the future.
