University of Edinburgh - Honour for Confucius Institute

The Confucius Institute for Scotland, established in 2005 as a partnership between the Fudan University in Shanghai and the University of Edinburgh, has won a second Award of Excellence from Hanban, the Chinese Ministry of Education offshoot responsible for the global network of Confucius Institutes, which promote educational, economic and cultural ties. The Scottish institute's director, Natascha Gentz, has taken up the new post of dean international for China, while Edinburgh's principal, Sir Timothy O'Shea, has been appointed to the board of the China-Britain Business Council. Professor Gentz said: "While many universities and colleges have been active in recruiting students from China, the University of Edinburgh has opted to evolve a more comprehensive strategy for engagement with China, which is being recognised and rewarded at the highest level."