The Nottingham Confucius Institute China Ningbo Branch marked its 10th anniversary with a commemorative conference held on Friday, 16 October 2026 at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China. Under the theme “语言为桥 共赴未来” / “Bridging Languages, Journey to the Future,” the event brought together scholars, educators, students and guests to review a decade of work in international Chinese-language education and cultural exchange, while looking ahead to new opportunities for dialogue, learning and collaboration.

The anniversary programme opened at the New International Conference Centre with registration, a welcome address by Professor Panos Vlachopoulos, Vice Provost for Education and Student Experience, a student-greetings video showcase, and a presentation on the development of the Confucius Institute.

The morning session also included three keynote speeches. Professor Wu Zhongwei of Fudan University spoke on the “integration” of Chinese-language teaching from multiple perspectives, covering pedagogy, textbook design, classroom practice and teacher development. Professor Yao Shujie, Dean of the Li Anmin Institute of Economic Research at Liaoning University and co-founder and inaugural director of the Nottingham Confucius Institute China Ningbo Branch, explored the development of artificial intelligence and major-power competition, with attention to AI’s influence on economic growth, education and global talent competition. Dr. Yang Mei, Chairman of the Qufu Zhusi Cultural Heritage Center, reflected on classical educational theories from China and abroad and their relevance to contemporary educational practice.

In the afternoon, the conference continued with parallel workshops and discussions. Professor Wu Zhongwei led a workshop on Chinese-language teaching; Associate Professor Zhao Yanfeng of Peking University discussed “The Global Significance of Chinese Classics,” highlighting the contemporary value of Confucian and Daoist thought in philosophy, ethics, global governance and international Chinese-language classrooms; and Associate Professor Guo Lan of the University of Nottingham presented “Talking Trees: Learning Actively in Nature—Outdoor Language Learning in Higher Education,” sharing approaches to active learning, cross-cultural exchange and language practice in natural environments.

The anniversary celebration concluded with an evening public lecture by Dr. Yang Mei in Siyuan Auditorium, titled “In Search of Education’s Utopia (Peach Blossom Spring)—Classical Educational Theories from China and Abroad and Contemporary Practice.” The lecture examined how Chinese and Western educational traditions can inform present-day practice, particularly in balancing knowledge acquisition with character development and whole-person education.

As a milestone occasion, the 10th anniversary celebration reflected the Nottingham Confucius Institute China Ningbo Branch’s decade-long commitment to building bridges through language and culture. The event not only reviewed the Institute’s achievements in Chinese-language education and intercultural exchange, but also created a platform for scholars and participants to discuss the future of education, cultural understanding, classical learning, artificial intelligence and global cooperation. Guided by the anniversary message “Decade of Harmony, Embracing a Shared Tomorrow,” the programme emphasized language as a bridge connecting people, cultures and ideas, and reaffirmed the Institute’s continuing role in fostering mutual understanding and shared development.