Coimbatore: The Bharathiar University in Tamil Nadu has announced it will set up a research centre in May for Indian students to study Chinese culture.

The university, based in this textile town, decided to name the centre after the Chinese philosopher Confucius, G. Thiruvasagam, vice-chancellor of Bharathiar University who has just returned from a ten-day China visit, said on Monday.

'Confucius has had a great influence on the Chinese education system and lifestyle and our university wants to set up the Confucius Centre for Indian scholars to get better acquainted with his teachings', he said.

The Confucius Centre 'will allow students here to study the contribution made by Confucius to philosophy and world culture', Thiruvasagam added.

The centre will be supported by the Chinese government. The university has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with China's Huaihua University, which will provide a professor and two lecturers to support the centre.

The university also announced that influenced by the Chinese education system, it will increase the number of short-term and vocational courses it offers. Minimum attendance will no longer be compulsory for students but teachers will be judged by a student assessment process. IANS