Confucius Institute in Auckland
Advisory Board Meeting Minutes
Vice-Chancellor’s Committee Room,
Clocktower, University of Otago, Dunedin
(Zoom Meeting with Fudan)
1 December 2020, 14:00
Present:
Prof. Jenny Dixon (Chair), Prof. Helen Nicholson, Prof. Paul Clark,
Danny Chan, Peter Chin, Prof. Zhimin Chen, Prof. Zhongwei Wu, Prof Lian Lu
In attendance:
Nora Yao, Bing Zhou, Janine Chin, Lin Li, Chriss Hamilton
Apologies:
Pat English
1. Welcome
• Chairperson Prof. Dixon welcomed the Board members to the meeting and
thanked Otago for organizing proceedings in Dunedin.
2. Farewell to Prof. Helen Nicholson
• Professor Helen Nicholson was thanked and farewel ed by the members
acknowledging her support and efforts during her tenure.
3. Minutes from previous meeting, 10th September 2020
Corrections: No Corrections
Approval of minutes: Moved Prof. Dixon, seconded unanimously.
Matters Arising
None
4. Financial Reports – presented by Janine Chin
Period: 01/01/2020 – 31/10/ 2020
1357: CI projects funded by Hanban/China
• Impact of Covid-19 has resulted in ongoing drop in revenue from cancel ed
Chinese courses and exams. Other activities have not been able to be completed
as scheduled.
• Some outlay on casual staff due to no MLAs.
1358: UoA contributions to CI
• Continued savings on people costs due to the vacant office coordinator’s position
being casual.
• Operating expenses decreased slightly due to limited office-based activities.
• Occupancy decreased as CI now only pay for upper floor versus the whole building
previously.
Other
• Monies not used due to programme cancellations will be carried into next year’s
projects.
• Website maintenance expense due to final web development payment as wel as
increase in monthly fee due to increased storage requirements.
• Funds received from CAPE to support development of Chinese resources website
for teachers, primary to secondary.
Acceptance of financial report: Approved.
5. Confucius Institute Report - presented by Nora Yao
Review of activities from September – November 2020. Key points:
Staffing: Office coordinator’s position remains casual.
Chinese in Schools:
• Reduced school activities due to Covid-19 and no MLAs.
• Focus on Confucius Classrooms to review and support ongoing programmes.
• Expressions of interest called for Chinese Classrooms – similar to Confucius
Classrooms but for 3 year term and able to be extended.
Upcoming:
• China Cultural Camp from 6-11 December for Y11-13 secondary students to
replace annual trip to China. Camp in partnership with CAPE.
• Global CI conference may be postponed to June 2021 but wil depend on
situation of Covid-19. Virtual regional options being investigated.
• Call for 2021 MLA Expressions of Interest but wil depend on travel regulations
from NZ and China.
Acceptance of CI report: Approved.
6. Otago Office Report - presented by Prof. Helen Nicholson and Chriss Hamilton
• A number of local and outreach programmes cancelled due to Covid-19.
• Drumming workshop scheduled to happen.
• Workshops are dependent on resources being available.
• Budget updates to be made and resubmitted for funding.
7. Draft Strategic Plan 2021-2030
• Prof. Dixon noted that with, the ongoing pandemic, it is difficult to finalise a
new plan at this time. An interim short-term plan may be looked at to cover the
pandemic period.
8. Draft 2021 budget application – presented by Nora Yao
• Budgets are to be more conservatively based versus the norm, given likely
ongoing disruptions with Covid-19.
• Unused 2020 funds should also be carried over into 2021.
9. Fudan update – presented by Prof. Chen
• Managing and working with CIs directly will allow greater synergies and
increased university collaborations.
• Online learning is happening including workshops with different universities.
Agreement Letter – noted that the Agreement letter to transfer from Hanban to the
Centre/Foundation was in progress.
10. Next MEETING
Proposed meeting for March/April 2021. Date to be confirmed.
The meeting concluded at 15:30.
Minutes submitted by: Chriss Hamilton
Approved by:
Chair: Professor Jenny Dixon
Document Outline
