Introduction to Confucius Institute of Suan Dusit University at Suphanburi (CISDUS), Thailand

With the approval of the Headquarter of Confucius Institutes, the Confucius Institute of Suan Dusit University at Suphanburi（CISDUS）in Thailand was officially opened on December 27, 2006, co-founded by Guangxi University and Suan Dusit University. As an educational institution, CISDUS, which based in Suphanburi, serving the central and western parts of Thailand, devotes itself to the promotion of international Chinese, and strives to promote exchanges and cooperation in the area of education, culture and economy between China and Thailand. Till December of 2018, CIDUS had developed to be an institute with 63 teaching schools and an affiliated Confucius Classroom of Banhan No.1 Middle school and 2 Chinese Language & Culture Centers.

Always insisting on close cooperation and timely communication with Suan Dusit University in Thailand, CISDUS has achieved different kinds of breakthroughs and achievements in Chinese teaching, Chinese proficiency test, Chinese cultural promotion and so on, with the support and cooperation of both parties and through the efforts of all teachers participated.

  1. The amount of Chinese teaching hours, Chinese language training and registered learners in CISDUS has increased year by year, ranked the best ones in the Confucius Institutes around the world in scale. Just in 2018 alone, the number of learners reached to 26,554 , and the total amount of annual teaching hours achieved 18,473 hours.

 2. CISDUS has been forwardly promoting and propagandizing the examinations of Chinese language such as HSK/HSKK and YCT, and conducted all kinds of training for Chinese language exams. The number of Chinese proficiency testers has steadily increased in recent years, ranked among the top of the Confucius Institutes in Thailand in growth rate.

3. CISDUS has always closely contacted local Thai social groups and institutions. CISDUS often invites the Thai Royal Family members, former Thai Deputy Prime Minister Ban Han, and the governors from local government to attend the big events and activities. The promotion of activities by senior government officials and cultural celebrities has attracted the participation of local people and teachers and students, and promoted the influence of CISDUS in the local area. According to statistics, during the years from 2012 to 2018, CISDUS held a total of 628 events and activities, which attracted more than 300,000 people participated. In addition, the Chinese Language Cultural Center, located at Lijiang Village of Tianlong Town, Suphanburi, often makes good use of various holidays to hold various cultural events, attracting many tourists to participate, and has gradually become a famous name card of CISDUS.

4. CISDUS also actively devoted to the exchanges and cooperation between China and Thailand on cooperation of scientific research , academic exchange visits, teacher-student exchanges, mutual recognition of credits and so on. In 2018, nearly 200 teachers and students were sent by Guangxi University to Thailand for academic exchanges, scientific research cooperation, and teaching internships. And meanwhile, Suan Dusit University also sent more than 200 teachers and students to Guangxi University to visit and exchange. During the period of 2012-2018, a total of 120 time/people are involved in teaching, lecturing, exchange and scientific research cooperation between two sides. and the number of exchange students of two sides for cultural, artistic and sports exchanges are close to 400.

 Guangxi University and Suan Dusit University have cooperated to conduct in-depth research on ASEAN countries. Under the auspices of Dr. Fan Zuojun, Vice President of Guangxi University and Chairman of the Board of Directors of CISDUS, the Think Tank Alliance of China-ASEAN Universities was established in September 2018.

5. Paying attention to propaganda, breakthrough in media exposure

Since 2013, CISDUS has increased its publicity efforts, and the media exposure rate has increased year by year. In the past three years from 2016 to 2018, CISDUS has drawn great attention by massive media and newspapers, and a total of 658 relative reports were covered (articles forwarded and republished are exclusive).

 6. Vigorously promote Chinese government scholarships, Confucius Institute scholarships, and the “New Sinology Program” and other Chinese programs for studying in China. In 2012-2018, CISDUS has recommended hundreds of Thai students to receive Chinese government scholarships, Confucius Institute scholarships and the “New Sinology Program” to study in universities and research institutions in China. In 2018, a total of 62 outstanding students were recommended to apply for the Confucius Institute Scholarship, 40 of whom were awarded the Scholarship.

 7. To support the development of CISDUS the number of overseas internship students from Guangxi University are increased year by year. Since 2012, Guangxi University has gradually increased the number of overseas internships for students to meet the growing demand for Chinese language teaching in Thailand. In 2012-2018, a total of nearly 800 post-graduate students and undergraduate students majoring in Chinese International Education were sent to teach in Thailand, making Guangxi University as one of the few universities in China with an overseas internship base for the major of Chinese international education. It also strongly supports the development of CISDUS.

Based on the construction of the Confucius Institute, Guangxi University and Suan Dusit University have enhanced their mutual understanding and cooperation, more closer relationship between two sides has achieved through the platform of CISDUS,.