RMIT agreed to give a Chinese government agency overriding authority over teaching at its Confucius Institute, one of 13 China-funded cultural education centres at Australian universities.

In agreeing to comply with Beijing-based Hanban's decision-making authority, RMIT's previously undisclosed contract is similar to a handful of other Australian Confucius Institute agreements uncovered earlier this year.

RMIT is one of 13 Australian universities hosting a Confucius Institute. Credit:Erin Jonasson

"The institute must accept the assessment of the [Confucius Institute] Headquarters on the teaching quality," the agreement between Hanban and RMIT states.

Obtained under freedom of information laws, the contract to establish the university's Chinese Medicine Confucius Institute was first signed in 2013 and renewed in 2018.