AUM to celebrate Confucius Institute grand opening on Nov. 2

A delegation of 13 Chinese dignitaries will visit campus on Nov. 2 for the grand opening of AUM’s new Confucius Institute. The daylong celebration will feature a variety of cultural exhibits and performances – from calligraphy demonstrations to a hibachi-style cooking show.

Faculty, staff and students are invited and strongly encouraged to participate in the festivities. The Chancellor has approved closing offices during the dedication ceremony from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., to make it easier for employees to attend.

"We are very pleased and honored to welcome a Confucius Institute to its new home at Auburn Montgomery," said Chancellor John G. Veres III. "The Confucius Institute is a gateway to Chinese culture and language, both on campus and in the community. As we continue to foster and expand the notion that a global education is beneficial for both AUM students and students abroad, we are grateful to the Hanban, the Hubei University of Economics, and our 33 sister universities in China for sharing our commitment to an international education and working with us to provide students with insight they might not otherwise experience."

The Office of Chinese Language Council International, or the Hanban, named Auburn Montgomery home to a new Confucius Institute in the spring. The university is one of two institutes in Alabama and more than 300 organizations worldwide committed to promoting Chinese language and culture. AUM’s academic partner in the Confucius Institute is Hubei University of Economics.

Established in 2004 to promote the teaching of Chinese culture and language abroad, Confucius Institutes are nonprofit public organizations aligned with the Chinese government through the Ministry of Education. They are named in honor of Confucius, a Chinese teacher and philosopher who lived 551-479 B.C.

For more information, call 334-244-3629 or visit www.aum.edu/confucius-institute.

Schedule of Events:

9 a.m., Taylor Center 230 – Exhibit Hall opens, featuring Chinese art and artifacts.

9:30-11:30 a.m., Goodwyn Hall 109 – Dedication Ceremony. Offices may close to enable staff attendance.

11:30 a.m., Taylor Center 230 – Lunch. Free Chinese take-out will be available. Faculty and staff may enjoy the art exhibit and grab a to-go lunch before heading back to their offices.

11:40 a.m., Quad – Dragon Dance.

Noon, Taylor Center 221-223 – VIP reception for dignitaries and other invited guests.

2:30-4 p.m., Goodwyn Hall 109 – Cultural performances, including traditional Chinese music and dance.

4 p.m., Taylor Center 221 – Hibachi-style cooking demonstration, featuring exotic ingredients like squid and Mandarin fish.