CI-MSU was jointly established by Michigan State University and China Central Radio and TV University under the authorization and sponsorship of Chinese Language Council International in May 2006. Its mission is to provide high-quality Chinese language and culture education to a worldwide audience through innovative uses of information and communication technologies. To this end, the Institute has focused its efforts on four sets of products and services:

1. Online/Distance Chinese Language and Culture Education programs for interested individuals and institutions without easy access to qualified Chinese language instructors.
2. Multimedia Chinese Language and Culture software to enhance learning outcomes.
3. Teacher Training programs to help teachers from China to teach effectively in U.S. schools.
4. Research and Development programs to explore innovative approaches to teaching Chinese language and culture in non-native contexts.

The Institute has proven to be a success in meeting the rising demand for Chinese language and culture education through addressing the critical bottlenecks: shortage of qualified Chinese teachers, political and practical resistance in schools, and shortage of effective learning materials. The flexible, innovative, effective, and user-centered principle the Institute adheres to has yielded amazing outcomes. Since its establishment, the Institute has been serving nearly 2,600 students through formal instructional programs and thousands more through online informal products and services. Students of the Institute range from kindergartners to adults from different parts of the world.

Currently, the Institute offers a wide range of online and face-to-face programs and activities for K-12 students and adults, including:

• Online Chinese courses for high school students and college students via Michigan Virtual High School and Michigan Virtual University.
• Online Chinese language and culture learning materials
o Web casting – China Panorama
o Chinese Chat podcasts
o Little Chinese Chat podcasts
o Character A Day
o My Chinese Tutor
• Chinese language and culture summer camps
• Chinese Your Way multimedia interactive software
• Chinese culture appreciation materials
• Chinese School in Second Life, a fast growing 3-D virtual world,
• Zon (New Chengo) - Massively Multi-player Online Role Playing Game for Chinese language learning and cultural appreciation and awareness
• Education for Global Citizenship (EGC) bilingual, bicultural immersion program
• Professional Development programs for both online and on-site teachers.
• Consultation with schools and other organizations to develop customized Chinese language and culture learning programs.

The CI-MSU has over 40 permanent and temporary staff, including its China R&D center housed at CCRTVU. The staff has deep theoretical understanding of and extensive experiences in a multitude of areas including the Chinese language and culture, second language education, new media and language learning, teacher professional development, and bilingual immersion education. Most staff members are bilingual in English and Chinese, and have profound understandings of Eastern and Western educational traditions and pedagogies. The institute has an extensive network of partners in higher education institutions and K-12 schools, in both China and the United States.