UDSM Confucius Institute Named Global Pacesetter in Chinese Language Proficiency
By Jackson Isdory, CMU
The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has strengthened its international profile after its Confucius Institute was named one of the world’s top-performing centres for administering the Chinese Language Proficiency Test (HSK).
The honour was officially presented to the Institute’s Tanzanian Director, Dr. Mussa Hans, at the World Conference of Confucius Institutes held in Beijing, China, from 14 to 16 November 2025.
The high-level meeting brought together senior government officials, ministers and higher-education leaders from across the globe, underscoring the strategic role of Confucius Institutes in cultural diplomacy and academic exchange.
UDSM’s recognition positions the University as a high-impact African hub for Chinese language training, assessment and cross-cultural engagement.
UDSM Vice Chancellor, Prof. William A. L. Anangisye, who attended a high-level academic forum alongside the conference, hailed the achievement as a milestone for the University. He noted that the award “reinforces UDSM’s global visibility and validates the University’s commitment to internationalisation, strategic partnerships, and academic excellence”.
Prof. Anangisye reaffirmed UDSM’s resolve to deepen collaboration with Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU) and to leverage China–Tanzania relations to expand opportunities in training, research and innovation for students and staff.
The recognition also speaks to the long-standing diplomatic ties between the United Republic of Tanzania and the People’s Republic of China, a partnership rooted in mutual respect, development cooperation and shared aspirations since the 1960s.
Over the decades, both countries have broadened collaboration in education, infrastructure, trade, culture and people-to-people exchanges. The Confucius Institute at UDSM stands out as a flagship symbol of this cooperation, demonstrating how academic and cultural platforms can anchor and deepen bilateral relations.
Distinguished Service Award to Prof. Xiaozhen Zhang
At the same event, the Institute’s Chinese Director, Prof. Xiaozhen Zhang, received a Distinguished Service Award for her pivotal role in establishing and nurturing Confucius Institutes globally.
As the founding director of the UDSM Confucius Institute, Prof. Zhang has been instrumental in its establishment, nurturing and positioning it as a model of excellence and in consolidating academic linkages between sister universities ZJNU and UDSM in pursuit of global scholarship and cultural understanding.
Prof. Zhang expressed profound appreciation for the strong partnership between the two institutions, stressing that “the Confucius Institute at UDSM is a benchmark of how coordinated academic cooperation can yield transformative impact in language education and intercultural exchange.”
Reflecting on the award, Dr. Hans said the recognition demonstrated the Institute’s continued operational discipline, academic innovation, and dedication to producing graduates with globally competitive competencies in the Chinese language.
“The achievement is the result of strong teamwork and sustained institutional support from both UDSM and ZJNU”, said Dr. Hans.
Established in 2012, the UDSM Confucius Institute is part of a global network of over 500 institutes and has consistently acclaimed regional and international recognition. Its sustained performance underscores a clear institutional mandate to deliver rigorous Chinese language instruction, robust proficiency testing and impactful cross-cultural programming aligned with Tanzania’s broader educational and diplomatic priorities.