The First School Principal’s Trip from Ireland to China

Belvedere College SJ has been teaching Chinese Studies for four years now in Transition Year. Part of the programme has been an exchange with Wah Yan, a Jesuit Secondary school in Hong Kong. In September 2010 the first group to be offered classes in Mandarin and Chinese culture began. The course was heavily oversubscribed and now there are twenty students in the class. They hope to continue their studies for at least four years and possibly longer if there is a Leaving certificate examination in Chinese Studies introduced.

Organized by UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and co-hosted by the Great Wall Chinese Centre, 16 Irish Secondary School principals travelled to China for a 7-day visit to Beijing and Shanghai from 11th October to 17th October, 2010. It was the first formal delegation of Irish secondary school principals visiting the People’s Republic of China. The trip was organized aiming at enhancing the delegation’s understanding of Chinese culture and the Chinese secondary education system. It also aimed to establish links between Irish and Chinese secondary schools. In the case of Belvedere College SJ, which has been teaching Chinese Studies for four years, securing a partner school for a student exchange was a primary objective.

On 11th October, Irish principals arrived in Beijing and paid a visit to the headquarters of Confucius Institute in the afternoon. Dr. Liming Wang, director of UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland and Mr. Wang Feng, program manager who’s in charge of communication affairs of Confucius Institutes establishment in European countries and regions welcomed the delegation and introduced the headquarters’ mission and running programs.

The Irish delegation attended the seminar on the Chinese and Irish Secondary Education on 12th October. With great interest to develop possible twinning projects and exchange programs, 12 Chinese principals introduced their schools and warmly welcomed Irish principals to visit their school.

A special demonstration of Chinese language class was organized for the delegation to observe, on the 13th October, so that they could have a better understanding of the language learning and teaching process. The demonstration was held in College of International Education of Minzu University of China (MUC). Mr. Yinghui Wu, Dean of the College of International Education, introduced the department of Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language and international students in MUC after the demonstration. He also welcomed students from Ireland to study in China after graduating from secondary schools. Two students from Belvedere College SJ have already benefited from a scholarship for a month in Shanghai University during the summer at the end of Transition Year.

Mr. Foley the Headmaster visited School 80, one of the most respected state schools in Beijing. There, he and the Principal, Mr. Tian Shulin, agreed the partnership in establishing an exchange for students to commence in March 2011.

To have an in-depth idea of how Chinese secondary schools are running, the Irish delegation also paid a visit to Beijing New Talent Academy, on the 14th, an internationalised boarding institute integrating kindergarten, elementary school, junior & senior high school, Cambridge International Centre, university foundation program and Chinese language program.

Apart from educational visits and academic seminars, Irish principals also paid visits to the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, Olympic Stadiums and other historical scenic spots in Beijing. The delegation travelled to Shanghai on the 16th October and visited Chinese pavilion and Irish pavilion in the Shanghai Expo venue.

While it was a whirlwind visit, it certainly confirmed my belief that teaching Chinese, both the language and culture, is essential in an education that aspires to prepare students for life. The rich culture and history of china is fascinating and the contrast it presents to our experience and preconceptions, is challenging and thought provoking. The Confucius Institute, its Director, Dr. Liming Wang and Xiadong Li, who organised the trip, has taught in Belvedere and was of great assistance in finalising the details of our exchange in March 2011, have been remarkable in assisting us develop a Chinese Studies programme. The award of the Confucius Classroom grant from the Confucius Institute recognises the work done to date in developing this programme and will assist greatly in future developments.

Gerry Foley,
Headmaster,
November 16th 2010.