University of Groningen: The Groningen Confucius Institute

The University of Groningen is continuing to collaborate with the Groningen Confucius Institute. The reports in the media on Friday 26 March about the partnership’s termination are in need of qualification.

The reports created confusion regarding the University’s partnership with the Groningen Confucius Institute, as opposed to the separate agreement between the University and Hanban on the chair in Chinese Language and Culture.

This agreement, which was drawn up when that chair was created, ends in 2021 and there is no intention to renew it. The University would like to emphasize that the professor’s appointment was always at the Faculty of Arts, not at the Confucius Institute, and it is the University that pays his salary. The chair in Chinese Language and Culture will be continued.

The Board of the University held an extensive discussion with the University Council on Thursday 25 March about the partnership with the Confucius Institute, at which the Board constantly stressed that academic freedom is the key criterion for the University. The Board also said that the University is examining how the administrative ties with the Confucius Institute can be restructured to remove any ambiguities.