Confucius Institute at University of Veliko Tarnovo in 2024
The Confucius Institute at St. Cyril and St. Methodius University of Veliko Tarnovo (hereinafter referred to as the “CIUVT”) was established in October 2012 in partnership with China University of Geosciences (Wuhan) (hereinafter referred to as the “CUG”). In 2024, in compliance with the work policies of the Chinese International Education Foundation (hereinafter referred to as the “CIEF”) and the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of China (hereinafter referred to as the “CLEC”), the Bulgarian Director Dr. Iskra Mandova and the Chinese Director Prof. Dong Yuanxing cooperated sincerely, and led all colleagues of the CI to unite as one and strive for progress. Under the proper supervision of the Board of Advisors of CIUVT and with the joint support of UVT, CUG and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, the work of the CI was vigorously carried out, and has made remarkable achievements in different fields of Chinese teaching, cultural dissemination, talent training, academic research and so on.
I. Chinese Teaching
1. Teaching sites and registered students
In 2024, CIUVT set up teaching sites in 2 new cities. In addition, Chinese teaching in the municipality of Kazanlak, which was interrupted due to COVID-19 epidemic, has also resumed. During the reported period, the CI opened Chinese language and culture courses at a total of more than 60 teaching sites located in 20 towns. These cities are scattered across Bulgaria, namely: Veliko Tarnovo, Gorna, Svishtov, Ruse, Tutrakan, Isberih, Popovo, Targovishte, Shumen, Varna, Burgas, Yambol, Sliven, Kazanlak, Haskovo, Pernik, Sofia, Vratsa, Elin Pelin and Chelopech. Among them, “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse and Hristo Botev First Primary School in Targovishte are two Confucius Classrooms affiliated to CIUVT. Over 3,000 students registered for various courses offered by the CI in the 2023-2024 school year, and it is expected that there will be more registered students in the 2024-2025 school year.
2. Faculty and Staff
In the 2024-2025 school year, CIUVT has a total of 37 faculty members: 1 Bulgarian Director, 1 Chinese Director, 4 administrative staff; 4 Chinese government-sponsored expatriate teachers, 13 Chinese government-sponsored expatriate teacher volunteers, 2 local overseas volunteers, and 12 local teachers.
3. Curriculum system
After years of exploration, CIUVT has opened Chinese language and culture courses of multiple categories and levels, including “Chinese for Children”, “Chinese for Beginners”, “Intermediate Chinese”, “HSK/HSKK Tutorial”, “Tai Chi”, “Qi Gong”, etc., so as to meet the individualized learning needs of different types of learners. At the same time, Chinese teachers/volunteers of the CI also undertake a number of courses for Chinese-related majors at the Faculty of Modern Languages of UVT.
Chinese courses are compulsory for Chinese-related majors at the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Cultures of UVT, as well as for students of some grades at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse, High School “Bishop Konstantin Preslavski” in Burgas and “Vasil Levski” Vocational School in Isperich. At other teaching sites, they are offered as elective courses. In those institutions where Chinese is a compulsory course, they have their own Chinese curriculum system. For example, courses of the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Culture of UVT cover Chinese language, Chinese culture, Chinese history, Chinese literature, etc.
In addition, since the autumn semester of 2022, CIUVT has given full play to the professional expertise of volunteers from the School of Physical Education of CUG and opened a course of dragon dance in the Confucius Classroom at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse. And starting from the fall semester of 2023, Chinese martial arts classes are also offered.
4. Teaching quality
CIUVT attaches great importance to teaching quality. The Directors and teachers often try hard to find ways to improve students’ Chinese language proficiency and Chinese culture literacy. To some extent, the effect is reflected in the Chinese Proficiency Test (HSK/HSKK) and the “Chinese Bridge” competition. In 2023, a total of 4 exams (2 online and 2 offline) were organized by CIUVT, in which there were 89 HSK examinees, with a pass rate of 98.87%; and 28 HSKK examinees, with a pass rate of 89.28%. In the first half of 2024, the CI has already organized 2 exams, 1 online and 1 offline. There were 43 HSK examinees, with a pass rate of 97.67%; and 25 HSKK examinees, with a pass rate of 84%. For the second half of the year, another exam will be organized offline in December. Since the 2024 exams have not yet been held completely, the pass rate data for the whole year has yet to be compiled.
On the other hand, the teaching sites affiliated to CIUVT have always been very enthusiastic about participating in the “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition, and they have always performed outstandingly in the competition of each group every year. From 2022 to 2024, CIUVT won the championship of the college group, for three consecutive years, in the Bulgarian finals. The winners were Yoana Borisova, Betizhe Okova and Kristiana Doneva from UVT, and CLEC awarded each of them one-year “International Chinese Teacher Scholarship”. And in the group for secondary school students, the champion of the 2024 Bulgarian final was also a contestant from CIUVT – Raya Popova, a grade-10 girl of the Confucius Classroom at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse, won the first place.
II. Cultural Events and Brand Building
CIUVT builds its brand image mainly by means of the construction of its official website, the update of its Facebook, the promotion of the CI via Radio Fresh, as well as by holding the annual international academic conference on “Diplomatic, Economic and Cultural Relations between China and Countries in Central and Eastern Europe”, publishing the Annual Report of CIUVT, and publishing the yearly journal Diplomatic, Economic and Cultural Relations between China and Countries in Central and Eastern Europe, etc.
On specific days such as traditional Chinese festivals, UN Chinese Language Day, Global Confucius Institute Day, and the anniversary of the founding of CIUVT, culture workshops, art exhibitions, photography exhibitions, Chinese Film Festival, Chinese Culture Week etc. are organized through cooperation with local governments, schools, youth centers, China Friendship Associations and other institutions. At the same time, the CI also takes an active part in some large-scale local culture and art festivals in Bulgaria. In addition, we maintain close contact with the Bulgarian newspaper China Today, the Bulgarian National Television, Radio Bulgaria and other media. Influence of the CI could reach the local community through their timely reports about the major activities of the CI.
In 2024, CIUVT organized a wide variety of cultural events, including performances, exhibitions, competitions, Chinese culture workshops, and participated in quite a number of large-scale local culture festivals, which attracted more than 200,000 audiences. Major/brand events among them include: 12th Anniversary Celebration of CIUVT/Confucius Institute Day, UN Chinese Language Day, “East Asian Cultures Festival” in Veliko Tarnovo, “China and Bulgaria: Ancient and Unique Civilizations” – Themed Calligraphy/Painting and Creation Competition and Exhibition, “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition Bulgaria finals, “Petko Hinov” Chinese-Bulgarian Translation Competition, Chinese Singing Competition of the Confucius Classroom at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse, Chinese Film Week and Food Festival in Targovishte, Chinese Film Screening in Burgas, Duanwu Dragon Boat Culture Festival in Sofia, Mid-Autumn Lantern Hand-painting Competition and Exhibition at the Chinese Embassy, International Mask Festival in Yambol, Rose Festival in Kazanlak, International Youth Art Festival in Sozopol, etc.
III. Cultivation of Teaching Staff
CIUVT attaches great importance to the cultivation of teaching staff. Every year, a “Leave-office Work Summary Meeting” and a “Take-office Work Assignment Meeting” are budgeted for Chinese teachers/volunteers in the CI’s annual program. The two meetings are held respectively at the beginning of July and the end of September at the CI headquarters in Veliko Tarnovo.
The “Leave-office Work Summary Meeting”, aiming to express the CI’s cordial care for outgoing Chinese teachers/volunteers, also invites designated Chinese teachers/volunteers who are still in China to participate online, which sets up a good communication platform for both old and new teachers. Those who are about to resign can talk freely about gains and losses during their tenure, share experiences and lessons in the teaching process, and pass on their experience to the incoming candidates, while the designated candidate can take advantage of this meeting to get in contact with his/her predecessor and seek advices. Whether for the veterans or for the candidates, the meeting will be of great benefit for them to better serve the international education of Chinese language and the dissemination of Chinese culture in their future career. And it also provides valuable reference for the CI to improve its work in the future.
The “Take-office Work Assignment Meeting” is designed to allow newly-arrived Chinese teachers/volunteers to understand the working mechanism and rules/regulations of the CI, to get certain perceptual knowledge about the local working environment, and to listen to the experience and lessons of their predecessors as for living and working in Bulgaria. It will be helpful for them to assume their roles sooner and better fulfill their mission in teaching Chinese and disseminating Chinese culture.
In 2017, UVT signed an agreement with Beijing Language and Culture University to jointly establish the Center of Training and qualification for Chinese Language Teachers – Bulgaria. The “Center” is specially equipped with one staff member and is operated by CIUVT. Before COVID-19 epidemic, the CI had held Chinese teacher training classes based on the “Center”. Local teachers from all over Bulgaria, Chinese government-sponsored teachers/volunteers and local overseas volunteers participated in the training. Key lecturers for the training in the "Center" are experienced local Chinese teachers in Bulgaria and experts from China. The training content is closely related to the status quo of Chinese teaching in Bulgaria and is highly targeted at the common classroom situations. It is of great significance for the cultivation of teaching staff. and for the successful implementation of Chinese education. In the post-epidemic era, the “Center” gradually resumed its teacher training mission. In February 2024, CIUVT organized a training class with the support of CIEF, and according to the work schedule, a second session training of the year is planned to be held before the Christmas holiday.
Moreover, CIUVT seizes every opportunity to arrange Chinese teachers/volunteers to participate in various teacher training programs organized by the Chinese side. They are required to listen carefully to the supervision of experts and scholars, seriously exchange Chinese teaching experience with external teachers, and strive to enhance their teaching competence and ability to organize and carry out cultural activities so as to effectively improve the teaching quality. In 2024, the CI has already arranged dozens of a local Chinese teachers to participate in several thematic “Seminars for Local Chinese Teachers” held in different cities in China.
IV. Implementation of Key Projects
1. Chinese textbooks
In order to meet the personalized learning needs of different types of learners, teachers at CIUVT teach students according to their aptitude, and make good use of textbooks such as Happy Chinese, Chinese Paradise, Easy Chinese Learning, Learn Chinese with Me, Great Wall Chinese, Road to Success, HSK Standard Course and some other teaching materials in daily teaching activities. Collections of the CI library are updated every year with the latest relevant academic journals from China and with translated literature in Bulgarian as well.
2. Chinese Proficiency Test: HSK/HSKK
In the first half of 2024, CIUVT has already organized 2 Chinese proficiency tests, 1 online and 1 offline. There were 43 HSK examinees, with a pass rate of 97.67%; and 25 HSKK examinees, with a pass rate of 84%. For the second half of the year, another exam will be organized offline in December. Since the 2024 exams have not yet been held completely, the pass rate data for the whole year has yet to be compiled.
3. “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition
In late April and early May 2024, according to the work schedule of the Education Department of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, CIUVT, in collaboration with Confucius Institute in Sofia, successfully held the Bulgarian finals of the 23rd “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, the 17th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, and the 4th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Show for Foreign Primary School Students. Ms. Wang Ming – Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China, attended the competition in person, which reflects the great importance the Embassy attaches to the “Chinese Bridge” program. The events were very successful. In the competition of the college group, a contestant from CIUVT, Kristiana Doneva, who is a student from the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Cultures of UVT, won the Bulgarian national championship. And in the group for secondary school students, the champion of the 2024 Bulgarian final was also a contestant from CIUVT – Raya Popova, a grade-10 girl of the Confucius Classroom at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse, won the first place.
4. Scholarships
In the summer of 2024, with the great efforts of Prof. Dong Yuanxing, the Chinese Director of CIUVT, two students from the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Cultures of UVT successfully applied for the scholarship to study in China. Tanya Stankova was awarded a six-month “International Chinese Teacher Scholarship” and Melis Adem received a one-year “CUG Scholarship”. Both students were admitted to CUG. With the help of the International Education College of CUG, they successfully applied for the visa for students, and currently the two are studying at the host university in Wuhan.
5. Summer camp
In the summer of 2024, with the help of the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria, CIUVT successfully arranged dozens of a local Chinese teachers to participate in several thematic “Seminars for Local Chinese Teachers” held in different cities in China, among which, for the first time, there was a cultural-educational seminar for representatives of the local government in Bulgaria and partners of the CIUVT.
6. International academic conference
From October 11 to 12, 2024, CIUVT held the 11th International Academic Conference on “Diplomatic, Economic and Cultural Relations between China and Countries in Central and Eastern Europe” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Bulgaria. The Bulgarian Director Iskra Mandova presided over the meeting. The Rector of UVT Dimitar Dimitrov, the Mayor of Veliko Tarnovo/Chairman of the Bulgarian National Association of Mayors Daniel Panov, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Bulgaria Dai Qingli delivered speeches. The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by Yang Tian, head of the Embassy's education affairs, Dong Yuanxing, Chinese Director of the CI, Angel Yanchev, member of the Bulgarian National Assembly/Chairman of the Education and Science Committee, Angel Apostolov, commissioner for Chinese affairs of the Bulgarian Ministry of Education and Science, Ivaylo Zdravkov, governor of Veliko Tarnovo Oblast, Ventsislav Spirdonov, Chairman of the Veliko Tarnovo Municipality Council, as well as dignitaries and university leaders from Burgas, Blagoevgrad, Pernik, Elin Pelin, Tsavdar and other cities. Special guests including Prof. Plamen Legkostrup, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Advisors of CIUVT; Prof. Nako Stefanov, Honorary Director of the Confucius Institute in Sofia; Prof. Andrei Radulescu of the Institute of World Economy of the Romanian Academy of Sciences; Prof. Li Denggui, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Eötvös Loránd University in Hungary; Prof. Liao Wei, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute in North Macedonia; Vice Dean Yuan Yue of the School of Art and Media of CUG; Prof. Hu Kai of the School of Physical Education; and more than 100 experts and scholars from various universities and academic institutions in Bulgaria attended the meeting.
V. Academic Engagements and Achievements
In 2014, CIUVT published the first volume of papers collected from its academic symposium to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Bulgaria and China. Since then, one volume of the yearly journal entitled Diplomatic, Economic and Cultural Relations between China and Countries in Central and Eastern Europe has been published each year with proceedings of the International Academic Conference on “Diplomatic, Economic, and Cultural Relations between China and Countries in Central and Eastern Europe”. Currently, the annual publication has been included in the National Reference List of Bulgaria and can be accessed through CEEOL, ROAD, Google Scholar, as well as referenced and indexed in other international academic databases such as ERIH PLUS, ResearchBib, GeneralImpactFactor, CiteFactor, DRJI, ESJI, etc. In 2024, CIUVT published the 9th volume of the yearly journal. At present, the 10th volume is under compilation.
During the reported academic year, the Chinese-Bulgarian bilingual version of the Administrative Procedure Law of the People’s Republic of China was officially published with great efforts of CIUVT. On April 18, the Bulgarian Director Iskra Mandova, PhD was invited to participate in the UN Chinese Language Day Forum held at the UN Headquarters in New York. As one of the 15 speakers, she gave an online report entitled “Sustainable Development of Chinese Language Teaching in Bulgaria: A Comprehensive Analysis and Recommendations”. And from October 19 to 21, she was invited to attend the 7th International Confucian Association Congress held in Beijing and gave a formal report. Apart from all the above, teachers and volunteers of the CI completed a number of academic papers this year.
VI. Honors and Awards
In late April and early May 2024, CIUVT successfully hosted the annual “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition. Students from the CI participated enthusiastically with outstanding performance in the competition of each group. In the Bulgarian Final of the 23rd “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, Kristiana Doneva, a student from the Department of Classical and Oriental Languages and Cultures of UVT, won the national championship, while Daniela Mihova and Melis Adem won third prize respectively. And Kristiana Doneva was awarded one-year “International Chinese Teacher Scholarship”. In the Bulgarian Final of the 17th “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, the champion was also a contestant from CIUVT – Raya Popova, a grade-10 girl of the Confucius Classroom at “Vasil Levski” Secondary School in Ruse, won the first place. And for the first time students from the Headquarters of CIUVT and students from the Confucius Classroom at Hristo Botev First Primary School in Targovishte took part in the competition this year and won the second and third prizes.
What’s more, in this year’s “Petko Hinov” Translation Competition, “China and Bulgaria: Ancient and Unique Civilizations” – Themed Calligraphy/Painting and Creation Competition, and Mid-Autumn Festival Lantern Hand-painting Competition, etc., contestants from CIUVT also demonstrated their strong capabilities, winning many awards of various types and levels. Among them, expatriate Chinese teacher volunteer Lai Jinting and 3 contestants from China excelled the others at the “Petko Hinov” Translation Competition, and won the “Best Translation” in both the Prose and the Poetry categories of the Bulgarian-to-Chinese group.
VII. External Cooperation and Social Recognition
Since its establishment in 2012, CIUVT has been in close contact with both UVT and CUG for more than 10 years. With the joint support of the two partner universities, the work of the CI has been progressing smoothly. Whenever a major event is to be held, UVT leaders usually will spare the time to participate, and also CUG is always there ready to lend a helping hand.
CIUVT is well-integrated in the Bulgarian community, not only in Veliko Tarnovo but also in many other cities and towns. It boasts of harmonious working relationship with all the faculties of UVT, and has successfully implemented long-term fruitful cooperation with more than a dozen municipalities, and with schools, kindergartens, youth centers, China Friendship Associations, etc. in different cities as well. At the same time, we also provide language services for some local enterprises within our capabilities. Therefore, the CI enjoys high degree of recognition in the minds of local officials and citizens.
According to incomplete statistics, throughout the reported year, the various activities and achievements of CIUVT yielded more than 300 online and offline media coverage in Chinese, English, and Bulgarian by Chinese and foreign media, such as Xinhua News Agency, China Government Network, China State Council News, People’s Daily Online, Global Times, Phoenix News, Bulgarian newspaper China Today, Bulgarian National Television, Radio Bulgaria etc., as well as by CUG and the Chinese Embassy in Bulgaria in their official websites. And this from another perspective also reflects that the work of CIUVT has received widespread social recognition.