The official opening of the Confucius Institute of the “South Ukrainian National Pedagogical University named after K. D. Ushynsky” was held on May 11, 2012. Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Office of Chinese National Education of Heilongjiang Province, the General Consul of China in Odessa, Harbin Engineering University, and other distinguished guests

The Rector of the University, A. Ya. Chebykin, opened the ceremony, which also included a concert by Chinese and Ukrainian students, an exhibition of Chinese literature, and a round table discussion on "Perspectives on the Confucius Institute in the Odessa Region."