Pitt-Bradford has had "very positive" experience with Confucius Institute.

One of the University of Pittsburgh's branch campuses reaffirmed its satisfaction with the Confucius Institute on Friday after the PRC-sponsored language and culture academies were again the subject of scrutiny and criticism by American lawmakers and academics.

Pitt-Bradford President Livingston Alexander issued a statement to The Era Friday, relating that several years ago, the university worked with an agency in the Chinese government to first establish a Confucius Institute program on the Pittsburgh campus and then facilitate the creation of additional programs on other campuses, including the one in Bradford.

“We were invited to establish an Institute at Pitt-Bradford and enthusiastically embraced the opportunity to familiarize our students and the local community with Chinese language and culture,” Alexander said. “We’ve operated our program for three years and both students and faculty find the Institute beneficial and instructive.

“Each of the Chinese instructors assigned to our campus have been knowledgeable, warm and engaging. Our friends in the community who participate in activities sponsored by the Institute instructors speak very favorably about their experience,” Alexander added. “I’m certainly mindful of the criticisms made about the Confucius Institute programs; however, our experience with the Institute thus far has been very positive.”

The University of Pittsburgh's Confucius Institute was named one of the 2013 Confucius Institutes of the Year last December.