POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS from University College Cork's recently established Irish Institute of Chinese Studies have travelled to Shanghai for a three-month immersion in Chinese language and culture.
The Cork university is the only Irish college offering postgraduate programmes in contemporary Chinese culture and business. The programmes, currently in their first year, are offered at higher diploma and masters degree level.
Director of the institute Prof Fan Hong says the aim of the overall programme is to help students enter into the Asian market aware of the cultural and political situation that exists.
The MA in contemporary Chinese culture and business is a one-year full-time programme designed for students with some experience of Chinese language and culture.
Students study at UCC for two semesters and in China for one while doing a work placement. By the end of the course, they will have received intensive training in Chinese language, business, politics and culture.
For students who do not have a background in Chinese language and culture, the one-year higher diploma in contemporary Chinese culture and business is on offer.
There are at present 180 Chinese students studying at UCC with a further 140 Irish/European students taking Chinese studies degree courses and evening classes. UCC also offers a BA and BComm in Chinese studies.
Of the six students departing for China, three - Ciarán Griffin, Michelle Li, James Cuffe - are Irish, while Francesco Scanlone is from Italy, Helen Murphy from England and Jacek Woch is Polish. Four are studying for an MA while the remaining two are Higher Diploma students.