Confucius Institute | Wikimedia Commons/Kreeder13
Confucius Institute | Wikimedia Commons/Kreeder13
The University of Arizona will be closing its Confucius Institute this summer.
The institute, which promotes Chinese culture and heritage in the Tucson community, is one of many across the country closing its doors due to changes in federal policy.
University of Arizona officials cited changes in federal laws and policy in its announcement. According to Tucson News, it made sure to tell Chinese teachers, staff and partners that their contributions have been appreciated since the institute’s founding in 2007.
Confucius Institutes are typically embedded and hosted within a university and serve as a center for language instruction, outreach and cultural programming. They are funded by Chinese government entities that also have a role in selecting instructors and staff that run the institute.
Concern over Chinese propaganda has been blamed for similar closures at other universities across the country. This includes Arizona State University, which is one of more than a dozen of universities across the nation to close their institutes over the last two years. Officials have long criticized universities for giving over too much control to a Chinese government entity while hosting these institutes.
Some have defended these institutes and stand on a position of academic freedom. The institutes have been a valuable vehicle for cultural growth and an invaluable resource for Chinese language instruction within communities. Many Confucius Institutes not only support the university that hosts them but also their local communities as well with outreach in local K-12 schools.
"To our partners in China and from our local community, and to Chinese teachers, CIUA staff and volunteers who have worked at CIUA, we are deeply indebted for their immeasurable contributions and dedication to the outstanding Chinese language and cultural program," University of Arizona officials said in a written news release.
While employees and instructors look for a place to relocate, the institute's scheduled programs will continue for the rest of the academic year.
Alerts Sign-up