Lihi Yariv-Laor, Director, Confucius Institute at the Hebrew University
The Research-Oriented Confucius Institute at the Hebrew University (HUJI CI), launched in May 2014 as a partnership with Peking University supported by the Chinese Ministry of Education’s Office for Chinese Language (Hanban), has broadened the horizons of its activities, initiating and supporting China-related cultural activities as well as fortifying China research. Its second year of existence was marked by extending research and cultural activities aimed at promoting the understanding of China in academic circles and among the public.
Research-Oriented activities initiated and co-sponsored by the CI included: “China, Jews and Jewish Communities: Cross-Cultural Encounters”, a conference in honor of Prof. Irene Eber that was held at the Maiersdorf Faculty Club, Mt. Scopus, on December 27, 2015.
“Diplomacy in the Age of Mongol Globalization”, was held at Mt. Scopus Campus, May 30-31, 2016.
“Keywords in Chinese Thought and Literature”, a conference in honor of Prof. Andrew Plaks that was held at the Maiersdorf Faculty Club, Mt. Scopus, on June 15-16, 2016.
Sponsoring visiting scholar, and guest lecturers and other projects: Prof. Guo Yan, a visiting scholar from the department of Economics at Peking University, offered undergraduate and graduate courses on China’s economy and society during the first semester of the academic year.
Peter Hessler, the American writer and journalist, whose books about China have won world fame, delivered a talk about “Learning to Speak Lingerie: Following Chinese Traders and Factory Owners in Egypt” (February 29, 2016).
Prof. Li Shuicheng from Peking University lectured on “Chinese Salt Archaeology and Salt Industry Heritage Conservation” at Abba Eban Hall, the Truman Institute, on March 27, 2016.
Mai Jia (Jiang Benhu), Chinese author, guest of the 2016 Jerusalem International Writers Festival, delivered a talk at Mt. Scopus on May 25, 2016.
The First Methodological Workshop of Chinese Studies in Israel that took place on January 24, 2016, was cosponsored by HUJI CI.