Area residents and students could take Chinese language classes and participate in Chinese cultural programs if Kansas University is successful in opening the third Confucius Institute in the United States.

KU Provost David Shulenburger, in China with Gov. Kathleen Sebelius’ trade mission, on Monday took steps toward securing the plan.

“This is a tremendous opportunity to prepare the people of Kansas and the whole Midwest better for the future,” said Bill Tsutsui, director of the Center for East Asian Studies at KU.

Shulenburger signed a memorandum of cooperation with China’s Ministry of Education. A final agreement has yet to be signed.

The institute could open by the spring, Tsutsui said, though a location and how the institute would be operated and financed need to be worked out.

There are similar institutes at the University of Maryland and in Chicago public schools. China plans to create 100 institutes worldwide to promote trade and tourism and to increase knowledge about the world’s most populous nation.

Tsutsui said KU has ambitious plans for the institute. Planners hope the institute will offer language training for businesses, schools, government and the general public. They also want to encourage Chinese language instruction in area schools.

“This really takes us in new and different directions,” Tsutsui said.