William M. Tsutsui

Executive Director

Welcome from the Executive Director

Welcome to the Confucius Institute at the University of Kansas, a gateway to Chinese language and culture for individuals, families, communities, businesses, and schools in Kansas, greater Kansas City, and western Missouri.

These days, the impact of China on all of our lives is greater than ever before. American trade with China continues to grow, China's role in world affairs is on the rise, Chinese culture (from feng shui to Yao Ming) is all around us, and, what with the 2008 Beijing Olympics just around the corner, understanding China is only going to become more important in the future. The Confucius Institute is here to provide you, your school, your corporation, and your community with a variety high-quality programs on Chinese culture and a wide range of ways to learn the Chinese language.

Founded in 2006 and conveniently located at the KU Edwards Campus in Overland Park, the Confucius Institute is part of an international network dedicated to enhancing public understanding of Chinese language and culture. We offer community language classes, provide on-site training for businesses and organizations, sponsor innovative distance learning programs for schools, support the development of Chinese language instruction at the K-12 level, and organize cultural events, including summer camps for kids. We draw upon and complement the extensive resources at the University of Kansas for the study of China, including KU's federally funded Center for East Asian Studies and comprehensive language training programs.

I invite you to explore the Confucius Institute website and to join us in expanding your horizons by learning more about Chinese language and culture.

William M. Tsutsui