2018 Volume 18 Pages 115-127
The Confucius Institute Project has been functioning out all over the world since 2004. This project aims to disseminate Chinese language and culture around the word. In recent years, with the significant increase in Chinese direct investment in Africa, the need for Chinese language education has continued to grow up. To fulfil this need, the Chinese government has been promoting the project and supporting the establishment of more Confucius Institutes in Africa. Every year, hundreds of university graduates or postgraduate students are dispatched to Africa as Chinese volunteer teachers. This paper, taking the Confucius Institutes in Kenya as a case study, aims to address the impact of Confucius Institutes in Kenya on the career paths of Chinese volunteer teachers and Kenyan students. Based on the interviews it was found that for both Kenyan students and Chinese volunteer teachers the experience of teaching or studying in Confucius Institutes may enhance their employability. This is because they can master various skills which are required in job-hunting such as Chinese language and communication skills and practical experience. Furthermore, a Confucius Institute can be set up and work with the cooperation of a Chinese university and a foreign university. The Confucius Institutes are not only providing Chinese language education, but are also playing a key role in enhancing and activating international cooperation between Chinese and African universities.
