Co-established by Beijing Foreign Studies University and University of Liege on October 17th, 2006, the Confucius Institute in Liege is the only Confucius Institute in the French-speaking area of Belgium.
Under the financial and educational support of the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), the Institute is flourishing. It provides comprehensive Chinese teaching services for local people from all walks of life. It organizes large-scale cultural activities, holds academic lectures and offers workshops on Chinese issues. It also provides funds to help its enrolled students to apply for scholarships for long-term study in China, and sponsors summer camps and short-term training.
The Institute has become the main force in Chinese teaching within the French-speaking area of Belgium, a window for local residents to learn about China and Chinese culture as well as a bridge for cooperation between China and local companies with investments in China.
Communication
The Institute has a strong teaching staff, with specialized teachers long engaged in Chinese teaching as well as inter-disciplinary teachers who have a deep understanding of the history, politics and economy of contemporary China. They are all professional and experienced teachers armed with advanced teaching methods, offering multi-level Chinese courses and courses in Chinese calligraphy and ink painting to people from all walks of life, including students in University of Liege, high school students, local residents, government officials and business administrators. The Institute attaches importance to developing students’ expressive and communicative skills and combining the teaching content with the HSK examination. When learners finish their study, they will receive certificates conferred by University of Liege.
As the bridge for China-bound investments and economic and trade cooperation between Liege Province and China, the Institute also cooperates with government bodies of various levels, Wallonia Foreign Trade and Investment Agency, European Social Fund, Madariaga-Europe College of Foundation and Belgian-Chinese Chamber of Commerce, etc. providing vocational training in business Chinese, Chinese social culture and Chinese business culture for employees from local companies involved with China to meet their needs.
The various software presented in multimedia classrooms increase students’ interests in learning Chinese, while the books and audio-visual materials in the reference room of the library broaden their horizons of Chinese culture.
Understanding
The Institute holds regular lectures and academic workshops about Chinese culture for teachers, students and researchers in the French-speaking area. The activities cover a wide range of topics, from ancient China, the philosophies and religions of contemporary China, Chinese literature, arts, music, paintings, and traditional Chinese medicine and acupuncture to China’s regime, society, market and economy. The aim of these activities is to give the local people a better understanding of Chinese culture and the diversity of Chinese society through communication and discussion.
Discovery
The Institute puts a lot of enthusiasm into the organization of various cultural activities such as the massive Spring Festival Galas, massive art exhibitions, exhibitions of modern arts, China Film Festivals, classical music concerts and calligraphy day. These activities bring the public into a closer contact with the long-standing Chinese culture and the development of recent China.
Address: Rue de Pitteurs, 20 Bat.L3, 4020 Liege, Belgium
Contacts: Eric Florence, Belgium Director; Zhang Dan, Chinese Director
E-mail:zhangdan@bfsu.edu.cn（Chinese director）
Tel.: 0032-4-3665006
Fax: 0032-4-3669705
(As of December 31st, 2014)
