Professor Yin Fulin newly appointed Chinese Co-director will assume his duties on Friday, 10 February 2017, at the University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute (UJCI).

He will be with the UJCI for the next two years working closely with Dr David Monyae his South African counterpart. Since 2004 Prof Fulin has worked in Nanjing Tech University as Dean of School of Foreign Languages. Currently, he is also a vice chairman of Science & Technology Translation Council of Jiangsu Province and a vice chairman of Nanjing Translator’s Council.

Commenting on his appointment, he said: “I am thrilled to have been given responsibility for the Confucius Institute, which is a project within the University that I have long supported.

“I have a keen interest in China culture and have many years’ experience working there, so to have the chance to connect people and promote connections between South Africa and China is a great opportunity.”

Reflecting on the work of the Institute over the past years, the new Director highlighted its success in promoting scholastic and cultural links between Africa and China, which has provided a foundation that he intends to build on during his own tenure.

“The Institute has given people the tools to discover cultural, business and research links with China.”

Welcoming his appointment, Dr David Monyae, Co-director for UJCI said:

“I am delighted that Professor Yin Fulin has been appointed, and I’m sure that his fresh and dynamic approach – along with his special interest in Mandarin and African and Chinese cultures – will take the Institute to even greater heights.”

Prof Yin spent the past eighteen years as a Lecturer, Head of English Department and became Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Law. During this period, he was awarded a national model teacher award.