he Office of the Confucius Institute of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) has sent multiple batches of medical supplies to the Confucius Institutes overseas, including anti-epidemic guidelines and protective manuals, to help fight against the worldwide pandemic.

The Confucius Institutes co-established by SISU have gradually launched online teaching.

SISU ​​has so far sent consolation letters to nine Confucius Institutes and co-established universities in nine countries, along with 1,640 face masks, 240 pairs of disposable gloves, the anti-epidemic guidelines and protective manuals in batches. Jiang Feng, SISU University Council Chair, and SISU president Li Yansong expressed their wish to make joint anti-epidemic efforts in letters. The foreign presidents wrote back to appreciate SISU’s assistance.

Jiang and Li also extended solicitude to the staff of the Confucius Institutes, appreciating their dedication and hoping them protect themselves from COVID-19.

SISU delivered personal protective equipment (PPE) for us expatriate teachers after the worldwide outbreak of epidemic, comforting us and guaranteeing our security in the foreign countries.” a teacher from the Confucius Institute wrote in the WeChat Moments.

With the escalating COVID-19 pandemic, many countries have declared a state of emergency. Italy and Japan closed all schools across the country in early March, followed by Hungary, Peru, Spain, Uzbekistan, Tanzania, Greece, Morocco and New York taking the same measure in mid-March. Most of the Confucius Institutes moved all classes online, except for the Confucius Institute at Osaka Sangyo University which was closed for holiday.

Chinese teachers of the Confucius Institute at the Catholic University of Peru have adopted final examination online, and the semester ends now. Uzbekistan radio and television stations will airing Chinese classes shot by the Confucius Institute at Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages.

“Despite the fact that we have been doing our classes via video for the last four weeks, our students are very happy with our CI class videos which they can watch as many times as they want flexibly.” Laura, headmaster of Confucius Institute at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greek wrote in the letter.

PPE has been sent to Confucius Institute of Madrid, Spain; Confucius Institute at Oriental University of Naples, Italy; Confucius Institute at University of Szeged, Hungary; Confucius Institute at University of Hassan II, Casablanca, Morocco; Confucius Institute at Catholic University of Peru; Confucius Institute at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greek; New York Confucius Institute for Global Finance at Baruch College, USA. SISU also sent PPE to the Chinese teaching team at UN.

Confucius institutes co-established by SISU and local universities expressed their sympathy as COVID-19 broke out in China earlier this year. The Confucius Institute at Osaka Sangyo University mobilised various resources and donated PPE to both SISU and the frontline in Wuhan while others extended their support for China via mail, video and other forms.