Marine Jibladze, director of the Confucius Institute at Free University of Tbilisi, Georgia, which was co-established with Zhengzhou University (ZZU), was awarded the Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director at the 2025 Confucius Institute Day event in Beijing, hosted by the Chinese International Education Foundation.
Marine Jibladze is awarded the Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
During the award ceremony, Jibladze delivered a speech reflecting on the institute's development since its inception in 2010. She emphasized the critical role of collaboration between ZZU and Free University of Tbilisi in course development, teacher training, and local textbook creation, which has been instrumental in the institute's sustained growth.
As a pioneer of Chinese education in Georgia, Jibladze has led the development of several bilingual teaching materials and established a collaborative teaching team of local and Chinese educators. Her efforts have expanded Chinese language education across various educational levels, reaching over 2,000 students and bringing the strength of Chinese education to Georgia.
This honor not only acknowledges Jibladze's 15 years of dedication but also recognizes the deepening collaboration between ZZU and Free University of Tbilisi in promoting international Chinese education. The two universities have turned the Confucius Institute into a vital platform for language exchange and cultural understanding between China and Georgia.
The Awarding Ceremony of the Medal for Long Service as a Confucius Institute Director. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
With ZZU's ongoing support, the Confucius Institute at Free University of Tbilisi has expanded its scale. ZZU remains committed to working with its Georgian partners to explore new avenues for international Chinese education and cultural exchange, further strengthening the bridge of friendship between China and Georgia.