The Confucius Institute at the University of Szeged was officially opened in the autumn of 2012 as a result of the cooperation of the University of Szeged and the Shanghai International Studies University with the support of Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters). Besides language teaching, the Institute emphasizes the importance of spreading Chinese culture to a wide audience.

On 27 September 2014, the Confucius Institute Day was organized by SZTE Confucius Institute on the occasion that the first official Confucius Institute was opened 10 years ago. The whole program was opened by a spectacular lion dance, which was followed by the welcome speech of Pál József Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs and Public Relations at University of Szeged. “The University is proud and also satisfied with the work of SZTE Confucius Institute.”-said Pál József Vice-Rector for Foreign Affairs and Public Relations at University of Szeged. In addition, he wished good luck for Mohr Richárd the new Hungarian director at SZTE Confucius Institute.

Pál József’s opening speech was followed by Botka László, Major of Szeged City. The Mayor congratulated for everyone who have participated in the hard work of making the Institute as successful as it is now because more and more primary-, secondary- and university student studies Chinese language.

Confucius Institute Day - Gallery

Cao Hang, the new Chinese director of SZTE Confucius Institute, also expressed his pleasure for celebrating the 10^th year anniversary of the foundation of Confucius Institute’s, and also that SZTE Confucius Institute celebrated its 2^nd year anniversary in Szeged. Last but not least, Ujhelyi István, Chairman of SZTE Confucius Institute’s Advisory Board said that among thousands of applications about where to set up a new Confucius Institute in Hungary took more than three years for Szeged to win this competition. We have succeeded and now a lot of people can enjoy the opportunity of learning Chinese. Lastly, he added that we celebrate not only the Institutes’’ birthday, but also the relationship between Hungary and China.

Mohr Richárd, new Hungarian director of SZTE Confucius Institute, has lived and worked in Beijing for 10 years. Ha announced that Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarter) has given away two multimedia electrical equipment to the city. One will be given to the University and one to the Informatorium. Altogether the SZTE Confucius Institute has 14 partner institutions, both primary- and high schools. These institutes got a copperplate and also educational materials as a present from SZTE Confucius Institute. For instance, Radnóti Miklós High School, SZTE Ságvári Endre High School, Rogers High School, Vocational School and Art School, Gregor József Primary School and many other educational institutes.

After the official opening ceremony, the guest could set off to explore the culture of China. Everybody could get a “passport” in which seals could be collected from different kind of activity tents. Later, seals could be changed into nice presents. The guests could practice the pronunciation of Chinese words, learn more about China via photos, and also via video films they were able to see such things as the Confucius Temple, the Temple of Heaven, and also the Longmen caves, its special feature is that it was curved and built for more than 400 years. We could learn other interesting things as well, for instance, 30% of the panda population lives in the Sichuan Panda Reservation. The participants could practice how to write Chinese characters, they could play with puzzles, they could learn a couple of important etiquette forms, and also they could try the traditional Chinese wedding dresses. Meanwhile on the stage, different kind of performances were introduced such as martial arts, Hungarian folkdance, Chinese folksongs were seen and heard.

SZTEinfo –Juhász Éva and SZTE Confucius Institute