Chinese language and all-embracing culture are now undoubtedly linked to Confucius Institute (CI) worldwide. This is the result of a fast speed development of CIs in every corner of the globe. As an illustration, there were in September 2019, 535 CIs and 1134 CI classes in 158 countries, up from 282 CIs and 272 CI classes in 88 countries at the end of 2009. In ten years, this represents an increase by 189% in CIs number, 659.3% in CI classes and 179.5% in countries number.

The Benin CI was launched on 30 June 2009 at the University of Abomey-Calavi, the oldest and biggest of the country. It is the result of a partnership agreement signed in January 2009 between Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban) and the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC). As one of the numerous “cells” of the Confucius Institute Headquarters, obviously the Benin CI shares quite a number of characteristics with other CIs: the Chinese language as a cornerstone of the teaching, a shared responsibility between local and Chinese heads, a mixture between Chinese and local teachers, cultural events, possibilities for the best students to go to China for internship or degree programs, etc.

However, the articulation of the above characteristics with some domestic aspects is crucial in defining CI’s experience.  There are basically two intra-differentiated dimensions that shape CI’s identity in Benin: a national dimension that is located within the academic microcosm of the country and an international dimension that relates to the broad context of Confucius Institute worldwide.

I. A special school within Benin academic microcosm

The agreement with Hanban was completed by operational agreements which were signed between the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) and Chongqing Jiaotong University in 2009, 2011 and 2013. This allows Chongqing University to be the technical arm for the development of CI in Benin. Generally speaking, there are three main aspects that combine to give CI a special status within the Benin academic microcosm.

{C}1. {C}Administrative architecture

Initially, CI was part of the former Faculty of Languages, Art and Humanities (now divided into two, languages and art on the one hand and humanities on the other) before gaining its autonomy as a separate entity.  It is now directly under the authority of the vice-chancellor of the university. Due to local administrative slowness and since most of its funding comes from Hanban, it now enjoys a relative financial autonomy, which most other academic institutions of UAC may not claim.

Besides, CI is run by a dual head, local and Chinese. That is, as it is the case for most CIs in the world, a local head who is appointed by the government and a Chinese head who is appointed by Hanban.

Furthermore, the Benin CI is backed up by very light personnel, which are reduced to the secretary general and four other support staff, including an assistant secretary, two accountants, and a driver. This is relatively marginal, compared to an average of 33 at UAC level (Annuaire statistique de l’année académique 2017-2018, pp.142-143). Undoubtedly, this implies a weakening of the institution in handling some tasks that are demanding in human resources.

{C}2. {C}A relatively high pass rate

At the UAC, the average rate for bachelor’s graduation is roughly around 57.4% (Annuaire statistique de l’année académique 2017-2018, p.4). Meanwhile, at CI this average is roughly around 70% for the second and third professional bachelor batches (the first batch being characterized by many dropped out in the process).  This implies that a student at CI is much likely to complete his program in three years than his colleagues elsewhere on campus.

   3. Higher employment rate

Due to a high demand in Chinese proficiency in the labor market, most of the students who were on the regular program before the professional bachelor program were employed by Chinese enterprises. Since 2013, the employment rate is close to 100%. This is also a result of the fact that CI actively engages with Chinese companies, such as China-Benin Economic and Trade Development Center, China Railway fifth Bureau, Huawei, Yunnan construction investment, etc. These companies are genuine internship venues and job opportunities step board for most CI students. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate after graduation is known to be relatively high at UAC and generally in Benin higher education (16% unemployment but 40% of those who get a job are underemployed). Though working with Chinese companies is known to be tough, wages for those CI graduates are well beyond national average.

II. A special institution within Confucius Institute worldwide

Benin Confucius Institute is among the first batch of CIs in the world, ranking tenth CI ever set up. To some extent, it moves from none to substance (cong wu dao you).

1. Less means for more efficiency

During his visit at the University of Abomey-Calavi (UAC) on 12 December 2019, the Vice-president of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Professor Shao Hong hails Benin CI for its high output despite very limited means. He holds that among all CIs he has visited worldwide, the Benin CI is obviously the most demanding in working conditions, yet one of the most efficient in output. Such remark is surely underscored by the variety, density and development of the programs.

As an illustration, from just over a hundred students upon launching in 2009, the cumulative number has risen astronomically to 30,000 students in 2019. This represents roughly 9% of a total population of 11 million, which is quite important. Apart from the regular teaching programs, the teaching model “Chinese language + professional skills” has also been introduced to target engineering practitioners, business practitioners and journalists, etc. in learning Chinese.

Cultural activities are conducted on a regular base, sometimes in conjunction with the Chinese Cultural Center. In ten years activity, not less than 160 cultural activities have been organized, which were attended by an aggregate of 40,000 participants. This is also a result of an active implication of UAC authorities and partnership with some Chinese enterprises such as Apsonic. The latter used to provide material resources such as tents and prizes for Confucius Institute cultural activities, and at times conducts film tours at its rural sales points.

The dynamism of the Institute is also noticeable through the variety of its activities beyond language and culture: the promotion of Chinese traditional medicine through a seminar in July 2019, research work through the Benin Research Center located at Chongqing Jiaotong University, the training of farmers in growing rice currently underway (January 2020), etc.

2. A Professional bachelor degree

The professional bachelor program was set up during the academic year 2013-2014. That is, not only students are trained to speak and write Chinese, but they also learn technical Chinese to guarantee their efficiency on the working market. These include commercial Chinese, engineering Chinese, etc. The rationale in labeling such a bachelor degree ‘professional’ relates to the linkage between the needs of the labor market and the quality of the training.

As one can see, Figure 1 shows a steady evolution of students’ enrollment. The first batch was characterized by a high rate of dropped out students due to their unawareness of the content of and difficulties in the program. This was improved the following year as more sensitization has been conducted. As for the academic year 2015-2016, there was a dramatic drop in the number of freshmen because most Nigerian students who came for registration  left due to the increase in registration fee. When the program was launched in 2013, Nigerian students were enjoying equal treatment with Benin nationals, which was 15,000 FCFA for registration fee (about $25 US) and 100,000 FCFA for tuition ($165 US). Meanwhile, the normal fee for ECOWAS students was 240,000 FCFA ($400 US) for registration and 100,000 FCFA for tuition, as non ECOWAS foreigners were to pay 290,000 FCFA ($383 US) for registration and same 100,000 FCFA for tuition. By the end of October 2015, the vice-chancellor issued a notice asking CI to implement the regular fees. However, the Nigerian students of the first batch were allowed to enjoy the same benefits till graduation. But departure of the Nigerians was no longer noticeable the following year (2016-2017) as more Benin students are interested in the professional program to the extent that applicants were limited to have a normal size classroom.

Furthermore, during the academic year 2016-2017, CI has opened the teaching specialty out of the professional bachelor program. 13 students were enrolled and by 2018, 10 of them graduated. Unfortunately, none of the students in this program who were sent to China for their Master degree has accepted to come and teach at the Institute after graduation. Though they have signed an agreement to come back and work at Benin CI, high offers at other CIs and Chinese companies elsewhere on the continent (average 1000 dollars monthly wage vs 500 US dollars at UAC) lead to the breach of the agreement with the Benin CI.  

3. Special dual leadership

Generally speaking, the collaboration between both national and Chinese directors in leading the CI is not always smooth. Cultural differences are probably the main source of clashes. But the Benin case offers a quite interesting input, which is that ever since the institute has been created, it has been run by the same national director, Professor Julien G. Sègbo who holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Wuhan University. This allows for a high degree of stability, experience and planning in the school’s activities. Besides, having lived and studied in China for over ten years gave him an advantage over many to understand and interact with Chinese people. Hence, the Benin model for running CI seems to be appraised elsewhere as several African countries have chosen this line of leadership in recent years (Guinea, Comoros, Burundi, Madagascar, etc.).

III. Suggestions

Though the Benin CI is special in both domestic and international aspects, we have seen during our field work that it is crippled by some dysfunctions. It then needs redress.

{C}1. {C}Ensuring more coordination at the leading level

The dual leadership is cause to a double administration leading to a discrepancy in information circulation and decision making. Besides, working documents and archives need to be unified since part of them is held by the Chinese side outside campus (including reports, exam sheets, lecture schedules, statistics, accounting, etc) and part on campus. Hence, there is need to have a unified administration so as to be able to apprehend issues holistically.

{C}2. {C}Editing a statistical yearbook

The UAC Confucius Institute should start editing a statistical yearbook. This will help shed more light on its activities and solve the problem of information discrepancies. Besides, it will be an important tool to strategize a scientific development of CI in Benin.

{C}3. {C}Recruiting more personnel

If the CI heads are obliged to limit the number of applicants for the bachelor program, this is not only due to logistics problem but also to the lack of teaching and administrative staff. Indeed there is a teaching manpower pool among Benin former students in China who have been trained twice (2012 and 2015) by experts hired by CI.

{C}4. {C}Setting up a formal alumni association

There is an alumni forum that needs to be upgraded into a formal alumni association with a clear agenda to help boost CI’s activities and social impact.

{C}5. {C}Creating a website

For more visibility, accessibility and interactivity, it is useful that a website be created to provide useful information to the people. It will also serve as an important communicating tool.

Finally, it goes without saying that all CIs worldwide have their own identity and distinctive traits. Thus the Benin case offers a unique insight in a successful experience. Yet it is a showcase for a large spectrum of multitier improvement both in hardware and software. Indeed the issue of local ownership of the Institute is much questionable as the latter is still viewed as a “Chinese thing” rather than truly as an academic institution of UAC. Hence, the main challenge for the next decade is to move CI to a higher ladder of UAC’s ownership.

Link: https://opinion.huanqiu.com/article/9CaKrnKoVew