Lancaster University Confucius Institute (LUCI) has been named as a 2019 ‘Confucius Institutes of the Year’ after being selected from more than 563 global institutions for the title.

Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), made the announcement on 10 December 2019 in recognition of LUCI’s outstanding performance during the year of 2019 and its leading Confucius Institute position in the UK.

Interim Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University Professor Steve Bradley said: “This is a significant recognition of our Confucius Institute’s achievement in 2019 and will be the first award (from Hanban) that LUCI has won since it was jointly founded between the South China University of Technology and Lancaster University in 2011. It is a joint success for both institutions and I would like to both congratulate South China University of Technology and thank Hanban for its support.”

The award is a top and highly competitive award for Confucius Institutes. LUCI is the only one out of 30 UK-based CIs to achieve the title in 2019, and, out of 550 CIs across the world, only 25 have achieved the title this year.

The award was presented by Chinese Vice-Minister of Education Tian Xuejun to LUCI Director Professor Jinghan Zeng during the awards ceremony at the Confucius Institute Global Conference in Changsha on 10 December 2019.

Professor Zeng added: “We are grateful to the Lancaster University leadership, especially the interim VC Professor Steve Bradley and PVC Professor Simon Guy. The prize would not be possible without their support.”

“We would also like to thank our dedicated Confucius Institute team in Lancaster and at our teaching partners Anchorsholme Academy in Thornton Cleveleys and Hawes Side Academy in Blackpool where we have Confucius Classrooms, as well as our partner Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery in Carlisle. Together the team comprehensively expands the availability of Chinese language and contributes to greater cross cultural understanding for our communities.”

On hearing of the award, Graeme Dow, the Headteacher of Anchorsholme Academy commented: "Anchorsholme Academy and our Confucius Classroom are proud to be within the Lancaster University Confucius Institute family. Not only do they support the amazing Mandarin Language and Chinese Cultural teaching in our school, but they generate genuine aspiration in our pupils to want to pursue a learning journey that will lead them to University."