Created: 2026.08.26. 14:42
Dr Yu Fengping, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Széchenyi István University, has arrived in Győr. In addition to coordinating Chinese language teaching and cultural programmes, he will work to further strengthen relations between Jiaxing University and the Győr-based institution. This autumn, the Institute will offer Chinese language courses for all age groups, as well as a series of cultural lectures, a film club, calligraphy sessions and a major event celebrating the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The Confucius Institute in Győr, established through the partnership between Széchenyi István University and China’s Jiaxing University, was officially inaugurated in January this year. Based on the University’s central campus, the Institute aims to make learning the Chinese language and discovering Chinese culture accessible to people of all ages, while further strengthening educational, cultural, scientific and economic relations between Hungary and China.
The work of a Confucius Institute is traditionally led by a Hungarian and a Chinese director. The latter, Dr Yu Fengping, recently arrived in Győr to begin his work at Széchenyi István University. His key responsibilities include coordinating and further developing the Institute’s language teaching and cultural programmes, deepening cooperation between Jiaxing University and Széchenyi István University, and launching new cultural, artistic and scientific initiatives.
Dr Yu Fengping (centre) was welcomed to the central campus of Széchenyi István University on his first day at work. Pictured are Beáta Gősi, staff member of the Confucius Institute; Dr Eszter Lukács, Vice-President for International and Strategic Relations at the University; Réka Orosz-Barczi, Hungarian Director of the Institute; Natasha Borbély-Bailey, Head of the University’s Centre for Languages and Culture; and Shen Zhi, staff member of the Institute. (Photo: András Adorján)
Dr Yu Fengping is a professor at the School of International Studies at Jiaxing University in Zhejiang Province, with more than two decades of experience in translation studies, intercultural communication and academic leadership. He has also been a visiting scholar at the State University of New York at Buffalo and Shanghai International Studies University, among other institutions.
“My previous studies and research interests made this role particularly attractive to me, as I myself have taught Chinese, and later English language and literature. Since the Institute’s primary mission is to promote Chinese language and culture, I feel that this position is particularly well suited to me,” said Dr Yu Fengping. He added that since his appointment, he has not only immersed himself in presenting his own culture but has also learnt a great deal about Hungary, which he is now visiting for the first time.
“Through the Institute, we are building a special bridge between the two countries, strengthening cooperation as well as cultural and economic relations. Equally important is strengthening the existing partnership between Jiaxing University and the University in Győr, as our institutions are closely interconnected in many areas, and this relationship also provides the foundation for our joint Confucius Institute,” the new director said. He stressed that, in addition to all this, his aim is to spark interest in Széchenyi István University and Hungary among Chinese academic colleagues working in cutting-edge technologies, thereby creating opportunities for even more professional exchange programmes.
Réka Orosz-Barczi, Hungarian Director of the University’s Confucius Institute, revealed that further native Chinese language teachers will arrive in Győr in the coming weeks, completing the Institute’s team. “We have ambitious plans that will serve the entire region in every area related to Chinese language and culture. We will continue the work we have already begun to introduce this unique world to people living in the region – regardless of age, gender or previous knowledge,” she emphasised. She added that they were delighted that so many people had already expressed an interest in the classes during the summer.
There is good news for enthusiastic language learners: Chinese language courses organised by the Institute will begin again from the end of September. In the autumn semester of the 2026/2027 academic year, classes will run for 15 weeks and will be available both in person and online. In addition to complete beginners and adults with some prior knowledge of Chinese, courses will be offered for children aged 6–8 and 9–12, young people aged 13–18, and senior citizens. Intermediate, advanced and master-level groups will also be launched, along with courses in Chinese character writing and Chinese for specific purposes related to the field of technology.
The first major cultural event of the autumn will be the Mid-Autumn Festival on 25 September, which is planned to take place at the University’s Győr Innovation Park. During the semester, those interested will also be able to attend a series of cultural lectures about China, a film club and calligraphy sessions.
Applications for the Chinese language courses beginning on 28 September can be submitted until 21 September. The detailed course offering, the schedules of the individual groups and the registration platform are available at konfuciusz.sze.hu. Those interested can contact the Institute’s staff directly with their questions at konfuciusz@sze.hu, while information about current programmes is also available on the Facebook and LinkedIn pages of Széchenyi István University’s Confucius Institute.
