Confucius Institute Launches Bachelor’s Degree Program in Chinese Language in Liberia
By: Laymah Kollie
Liberia-September 26,2023: Confucius Institute at University of Liberia with support from the Chinese Embassy in Liberia on today officially launched its Bachelor Degree Program in Chinese Language and Culture.
The Bachelor’s program will offer major Chinese courses to include : Elementary Chinese Comprehensive, introduction to Chinese Literature, African History, Liberian History, immediate Chinese writing and reading and China studies amongst others.
The four year program will include a three year study in Liberia and a year study in China before graduation.
The program aimed to provide Liberian students the opportunity to effectively learn the Chinese Language while studying in the country and abroad as well.
Giving an overview of the degree program, the director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Liberia D Asst. Professor Dexter S. . Sumo, mentioned that the Institution fifteen years of existence at the state run University is offering certificate and diploma programs.
According to him, for the past fifteen years, about hundred Liberians have benefited scholarship schemes to pursue the Chinese culture and values.
He continued that some of the beneficiaries are currently acquiring Bachelor’s Degrees abroad and others pursuing Masters as well.
“Confucius Institute has been in existence for the past fifteen years at the University of Liberia, Confucius Institute offer Chinese quality education in four different disciplines . It has produce over hundred students today other are doing their bachelor program abroad. Four areas we started with are certificate programs, minor architecture, we also offer Diplomatic programs .
We have six different scholarship scheme at Confucius Institute and now as we speak some of our students benefited , out of the hundred students on at the University of Liberia that have benefited from the scholarship, ten is doing bachelor program now.”
At the same time, Mr. Fan Er-wei, Charge d’ Affaires of Chinese Embassy in Liberia stated that the program’s launch does not only mark a new stage in the development of Chinese language but also serves as a witness to uphold a sincere friendship between Liberia and China.
“Today, the establishment of a bachelor’s degree program in Chinese Language and Culture at the University of Liberia marks a new stage in the development of Chinese Language education in Liberia. The establishment of this project is not only result of friendly cooperation between China and Liberia but also a witness uphold a sincere friendship between the two people”
Furthermore , Mr. Euriah Togar proxy for Josephus Gray, Assistant Vice President of University of Liberia pledges the Institution’s support to the program and encouraged Liberian students to enroll at the Institute.
“You have our support, you can call on us, the management of the University of Liberia can give her support to make this program a success. So I call on all of us to make use of this program”
However, the occasion was graced by Administrators of the state-run University, officials of government and students amongst others.
Confucius Institute was jointly established by the University of Liberia and Changsha University of Science and Technology in December 2008. Confucius Institute aims to promote cultural exchange and friendship between Liberia and China
