Instituto Cervantes (the Cervantes Institute) is a worldwide nonprofit organization created by the Spanish government in 1991. It is named after Miguel de Cervantes (1547–1616), the author of Don Quixote and perhaps the most important figure in the history of Spanish literature. The Cervantes Institute is the largest organization in the world responsible for promoting the study and the teaching of Spanish language and culture. This organization has branched out to 45 countries with 88 centres devoted to the Spanish and Hispanic American culture and Spanish language. Article 3 of Law 7/1991, of March 21, created the Instituto Cervantes as a government agency. The law explains that the ultimate goals of the Institute are to promote the education, the study and the use of Spanish universally as a second language; to support the methods and activities that would help the process of Spanish language education, and to contribute to the advancement of the Spanish and Hispanic American cultures throughout non-Spanish-speaking countries. Functions The functions and services of the Cervantes Institute are: It designs Spanish language courses, offering two kinds of courses: general and special. It offers the Diplomas of Spanish as Foreign Language (DELE) examinations on behalf of the Spanish Ministry of Education. This is an official qualification certifying levels of competence in the Spanish language, and is the only certificate for non-native Spanish speakers that is officially recognised in Spain. The diplomas are subdivided into six levels, each one corresponding to a certain proficiency level as described by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages: A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2. It improves the methods of Spanish education. On-line Spanish language learning environment Ex) AVE (Aula Virtual de Español) Creating a social, cultural and educational environment in each centre A student-centred plan, focusing on the dialogues between teacher and student over objectives and contents It supports Hispanists and "Hispanism", which is the study of the culture of Spain and Hispanic America. Sponsors lectures, book presentations, concerts, art exhibitions, The Spain Film Festival and Festival of Flamenco. Supported by other organisations and communities. It organises and promotes the program to spread the Spanish language throughout the world. The institute works with Spain's national radio and television to deliver Spanish language courses. Publications, on-line bibliographies, library holdings, the hosting of major conferences on the state of the Spanish language. It administers the Constitutional and Sociocultural Knowledge of Spain (CCSE) examinations