The Confucius Institute of Chicago–established in a partnership between the Chicago Public Schools Office of Language and Cultural Education, Office of Chinese Language Council International in China, Walter Payton High School and Shanghai’s East Normal University, in collaboration with the China Committee of Chicago Sister Cities–will be awarded the “Confucius Institute of the Year 2008″. Its director and co-chair of the education sub-committee on the China Committee of CSCIP, Robert Davis, Jr., will be named “Confucius Institute Director of the Year”.

The Confucius Institute is headquartered in Beijing, China, and operates under the auspices of the Office of Chinese Language Council International (Hanban). To date, there are 307 Confucius Institutes located in 78 countries and regions, and of them, only 20 were awarded the title of “Confucius Institute of the Year” in 2007. The Confucius Center of Chicago was among the 2007 winners.

The Confucius Center is a non-profit institute aiming to enhance intercultural understanding in the world by sponsoring courses of Chinese language and culture, so as to promote a better understanding of the Chinese language and culture among the people of the world; develop friendly relationships between China and other countries; accelerate the development of multiculturalism at the international level; and help bring about global peace and harmony.