Confucius Institute
The Confucius Institute at SUNY College of Optometry is a joint project of SUNY College of Optometry, Wenzhou Medical College and the Chinese government through Confucius Institute Headquarters (also known as Hanban), a public institution affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education.
Confucius Institutes are now funded at nearly 300 institutions worldwide for the purpose of stimulating learning about Chinese language and culture. Each funded institution partners with an institution of higher education in China. SUNY College of Optometry’s partner is Wenzhou Medical College with which it already has several other programmatic initiatives.
The Confucius Institute at SUNY College of Optometry provides programs and courses in Chinese language and culture with special emphasis on the healthcare system in China. Classes are open to SUNY students and faculty as well as to the general public and are particularly applicable for anyone who plans on working or studying in any of the healthcare fields or in biomedical research in China. The learning experience will enable these individuals to have a better understanding of the culture of providers and patients and of existing practices such as traditional Chinese medicine.
The Confucius Institute at SUNY College of Optometry is the first such entity established at an optometric institution, and it is also the first one established at a specialized health professions institution of any type.
Michael H. Heiberger OD, MA FAAO
Director
Email: heiberger@sunyopt.edu
Lili Tu, Ph.D
Deputy Director
Email: ltu@sunyopt.edu
Address:
Confucius Institute
SUNY College of Optometry
33 West 42nd St
New York, NY 10036
Phone: (212) 938-1012
Email: confucius@sunyopt.edu
About Confucius
The man known in the West as Confucius is one of a handful of human beings who, as individuals, have significantly affected the history of mankind. He was born about 551 BC in the Kingdom of Lu, a small state in what is now eastern China. His family name was K'ung. In later life he was known as Master K'ung, which in Chinese is K'ung fu-tzü the Latinized version of which is Con-fu-cius.
His family was probably a poor family descended from the aristocracy. His parents died when Confucius was small and he worked at menial jobs to support himself. He has written that at age 15 he decided to educate himself. He succeeded so well that at maturity he was acknowledged as the most learnéd person of his time.
Confucius lived to age 72. Toward the end of his life he summed up his life experience:
"At fifteen I set my heart on learning; at thirty I was firmly established; at forty I had no more doubts; at fifty I knew the will of heaven; at sixty I was willing to listen to it; at seventy I could follow my heart's desire without transgressing what is right."
Perhaps this is why Hanban chose the name Confucius for the 300 plus institutes that bear that name. The Confucius Institute program, supported by the Chinese government, is, in the words of Hanban, "committed to providing Chinese language and cultural teaching resources and services worldwide. It goes all out in meeting the demands of foreign Chinese learners and contributing to the development of multiculturalism and the building of a harmonious world."
Board of Advisors
The Board of Advisors to the Confucius Institute has the following responsibilities:
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To shoulder the responsibility for the operation of the Confucius Institute.
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To make the implementation plan stipulated in article 4 of the agreement between Hanban and SUNY College of Optometry.
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To formulate or approve the curricula of the teaching programs run by the Confucius Institute.
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To formulate or approve the recruitment plan of all the programs run by the Confucius Institute.
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To formulate or approve the financial plan of the Confucius Institute.
Members of the Board of Advisors
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Dr. David Heath, President, SUNY College of Optometry, Chair
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Dr. Qu Jia, President, Wenzhou Medical College, Vice-Chair
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Dr. Hu Zhen, Dean of International Studies, Wenzhou Medical College
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Dr. Lu Fan, Vice President, Wenzhou Medical College
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Dr. Chen Xiaoming, Vice President, Wenzhou Medical College
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Dr. Mitch Leventhal, Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs, State University of New York
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Dr. Mark Sherstinsky, Assistant Clinical Professor, SUNY College of Optometry
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Dr. Thomas Wong, Alumnus, SUNY College of Optometry
Chinese Test
The Confucius Institute at State University of New York's College of Optometry now offers HSK (Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Levels 1-6), a standardized test of Chinese language proficiency for non-native Chinese speakers, and the BCT (Business Chinese Test). To take the tests, candidates must first register online at: http://www.chinesetesting.cn. Detailed testing information and available test dates may be found at that site as well. Be sure to choose New York City which will bring up a short list of sites that includes the SUNY College of Optometry.
To make an online payment for the Chinese tests, please click here.
SUNY College of Optometry is located at 33 West 42nd Street in the heart of midtown Manhattan convenient to all forms of transportation.
If you need further information, please contact:
Dr LiLi Tu, Deputy Director
Confucius Institute
SUNY College of Optometry
33 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 938-1012
Email: LTU@sunyopt.edu
