Fast gaining stature as one of the top Confucius Institutes in the world, CI-NTU delivers a world-class curriculum while maintaining close links with global Chinese communities.



Confucius Institute, Nanyang Technological University (CI-NTU), was officially opened by Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew on 14 July 2007. The Institute located at NTU@one-north campus, was set up by NTU in collaboration with China's Shandong University and the Office of Chinese Language Council International, to leverage the strengths of NTU and China to offer a comprehensive range of Chinese educational programmes from the pre-school to postgraduate level.

Special guests at the ceremony included His Excellency Xu Jialu, Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, Mr Cao Guoxing, Director-General, Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, Ministry of Education, China and Her Excellency Zhang Xiaokang, Chinese Ambassador to Singapore.

Guests were welcomed by Dr Su Guaning, NTU President, who shared that the CI-NTU has drawn on its rich expertise, serving as an important platform in promoting Chinese language and culture in Singapore and beyond.  Dr Su added that the Institute has launched the Confucius Institute Fund, NTU and was able to raise $1 million within six months of its establishment with the enthusiastic support from Singaporeans and NTU alumni. 

In his opening speech, MM Lee said that the Confucius Institute "marks another milestone in the co-operation between China and Singapore, and can help Singapore to better teach the Chinese language and culture." MM Lee also noted that the wide range of courses and activities conducted by CI-NTU to promote Chinese language and culture were well received by schools and the public, with positive feedback from local grassroot organisations and Confucius Institutes around the world.

The event was also an occasion to thank the donors of the Confucius Institute Fund, NTU, who have pledged more than $1 million to the fund. The endowment fund now stands at over S$2 million with government-matching, and will be administering the Global Chinese Literary Award which offers the highest prize money of its kind in the world. The funds will also be used to support research projects, public events and workshops. Two research projects focusing on the conditions of Chinese language teaching in Southeast Asia and the use of motifs in Chinese Literature are already in the pipeline. 
  
In conjunction with the official opening, an international forum was held at NTU@one-north campus on 15 July, where renowned academia and scholars from Singapore, China, Japan and Korea gathered to share their insights on the impact and new direction of Chinese language and culture in the global age. An exhibition of "The Great Confucius" which showcased the many facets of Confucius and his descendants also made its debut at the event, marking the first time the exhibits are being shown outside Qufu Town, Shandong Province. 

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