Victoria University students won’t be lectured by China

Victoria University’s Confucius Institute will no longer play any part in teaching students in ­degree courses once a new contract is in place next year.

Victoria University vice-chancellor Peter Dawkins.

Victoria University’s Confucius Institute will no longer play any part in teaching students in ­degree courses once a new contract is in place next year that sets different terms for the China-linked language and culture body to continue on campus.

Vice-chancellor Peter Dawkins said that, following a review of potential risks, the university had decided to continue with its Confucius Institute and renew its contract, with some changes.

“Up to now (the institute) has contributed to some of the core teaching and learning of our College of Business,” Professor Dawkins said. “That’s something that, in the national debate about the role of Confucius Institutes, the people who argue that there is significant risk have highlighted.

“In our review we’ve seen no sign of that having happened but we have, none the less, decided that we won’t be doing that from now on.”

VU’s initial five-year contract for its Confucius Institute expires at the end of this year. Over the past five years Chinese academics from the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing have co-designed and co-taught some ­classes, mainly in the bachelor of business degree.

Not many students have been involved. VU said 124 undergraduates, plus a few master of business students, had taken such classes. In another change VU’s new Confucius Institute contract will be directly with UIBE, recognised as one of China’s leading business and finance universities.

There will no longer be a contract with Hanban, the Confucius Institute headquarters which is an arm of the Chinese Education Ministry, that was responsible for the institutes worldwide. The new contract will also have a provision for termination should VU suffer reputational damage.

Under the new contract, UIBE academics will continue to visit VU and deliver non-award ­courses in Chinese language and culture.

VU deputy vice-chancellor (global) Steve Berridge said the Confucius Institute would continue to deliver Mandarin-language programs for students and staff, undertake culture activities, and offer workshops on Chinese business culture.

“It is giving our students and our staff genuine exposure to Chinese business, language and culture,” Mr Berridge said.

He said funding from China would cover the expense of Chinese academics from UIBE visiting the Confucius Institute, but VU would bear the cost of the ­institutes’s staff.

Thirteen Australian universities have Confucius Institutes, and Queensland University and Melbourne University renewed their contracts this year. UQ’s new agreement removed language which stated that the university must accept Hanban’s judgment on teaching quality.