Organization and Management
Athens Business Confucius Institute (ABCI) is a partnership between the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB), the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the University of International Business & Economics (UIBE). ABCI aims to become a true economic, scientific and cultural platform between Greece and China, strengthen educational and cultural exchange and improve Chinese language learning while encouraging the further development of business activities, research and academic cooperation between Greece and China.
Our host university, Athens University of Economics and Business, has an infrastructure that covers the academic and educational needs of teachers, students and ABCI staff. There are lecture rooms with projection machines to conduct the courses and presentations, enough to cover the needs of all study programmes offered by the institution.
The management of Athens Business Confucius Institute is carried out through the Research Centre (RC/AUEB), which acts on behalf of the University and in accordance with the special institutional framework. Consequently, the scientific responsibility of ABCI lies with the Assistant Professor Dr. Alexandros Papalexandris, along with the Chinese co-director, Mrs Hongwei Yan.
About Athens Business Confucius Institute (ABCI)
Athens Business Confucius Institute (ABCI) was established in 2009 by the Athens University of Economics and Business (AUEB) in cooperation with the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing and the Office of Chinese Language Council International (HANBAN). HANBAN, as a non-profit educational organization, has established since 2005 more than 500 Confucius Institutes in the world with the purpose of promoting Chinese language, culture and facilitating international exchanges.
In late June 2020, the Confucius Institute Headquarters (HΑΝΒΑΝ) was renamed to the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, and is no longer involved with Confucius Institute program funding. Since then, a newly formed non-profit charitable organization, the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF), comprised by a number of universities and corporations, has assumed the responsibility of developing the Confucius Institute branding and providing financial resources.
ABCI aims to serve as a bridge between Greece and China in the domain of education, culture and business. By bringing together these two great civilizations and historic nations, AUEB is hosting in Athens the first and only Confucius Institute for Business in Greece and the third in Europe that is specialized in Economics and Business Administration. We support business, local government and community bodies in developing links with China through language training, cultural immersion and networking.
Our mission, our goals
Confucius Institutes, as non-profit educational organizations, develop a number of activities to serve diverse communities and build their programs with local needs in mind, with a view to enhancing the understanding of the Chinese language and culture and strengthening educational and cultural exchanges and cooperation between China and other countries.
In response, Athens Business Confucius Institute supports Confucius Institute’s initiatives and adheres to the promotion of the Chinese language and culture in Greece, as well as the enhancement of friendly relations between the two countries by offering a broad range of services in the city of Athens. Chinese language courses, Chinese language teaching resources, Chinese language teachers’ instruction, HSK exams (Chinese Proficiency Test), tests for the Certification of the Chinese Language Teachers, information and consultative services concerning education, culture, and business, are a few of the services provided.
In addition, at ABCI we organise study tours to China for our students, we help university ABCI students access Chinese scholarships and manage China's official language proficiency tests and competitions. We assist business, industry, and government to forge closer and more productive ties with China by delivering tailored cultural awareness training on Chinese customs, offering workshops on calligraphy, music, cooking, martial arts, traditional Chinese medicine etc.
We convene conferences, seminars and forums on issues relating to China, often featuring international guest speakers and conducting language, cultural, and academic exchange activities between China and Greece. In co-operation with local affiliate colleges and universities around the world, the aims of Confucius Institutes are to promote Chinese language and culture and facilitate cultural exchange. The ABCI brings a unique business focus that complements other Confucius Institutes in the world.
Our Partners
The Business Confucius Institute in Athens, Greece was established in 2009 and is proudly supported by the following three Partners: the Chinese International Education Foundation (CIEF), the University of International Business and Economics (Beijing) and the Athens University of Economics and Business (Athens, Greece). The Institute also maintains a highly valued network of Collaborative Partners and outstanding organisations with whom we work to further our common goals.
