Hanban – Monash book donation

The University has been honoured with a very significant book donation from Hanban, a non-profit organisation affiliated with the Chinese Ministry of Education.

The donation of nearly 2000 books was hand-picked by both Monash University Library and Chinese Studies staff and will be a significant asset to the University's students and academics undertaking studies and research in Chinese language, culture and history.

The donation consists of books and audio-visual materials, with Mr Dennis Kishere, the university’s Chinese Studies Librarian, indicating that the materials were well suited for the use of Chinese language and Chinese Studies students.

The University Librarian, Cathrine Harboe-Roe, said the donation enormously enriched the Library's holdings of Chinese language material and would be of great benefit to both researchers and students.

In honour of this generous donation, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ed Byrne, and the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement), Professor Stephanie Fahey, convened a ceremony to mark the occasion.

The newly appointed Consul General to Melbourne, Shi Weiqiang, attended the ceremony and presented Professor Byrne with a certificate of donation to officially recognise the handover of books from Hanban to the University Library. The ceremony was also attended by staff from the Monash University Library and Chinese Studies Program, Consular officials, Hanban staff, faculty representatives and students.

Following the ceremony, Professor Fahey said that the magnitude of the book donation was indicative of the long-standing and strong links that exist between the University and the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne.