Chinese to be prioritised as third language at universities

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has announced that Chinese will be given the highest priority as a third language in Bangladesh's universities, with plans to establish language centres at 30 universities across the country.

The announcement was made by UGC Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed during a meeting on Tuesday (4 August) with a six-member delegation from the Chinese Embassy in Dhaka and Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University at the UGC headquarters.

Professor Mamun Ahmed said that language centres are currently operating at 10 universities, while work to establish centres at 20 more universities will begin within the next three months.

Once completed, students at a total of 30 universities will have the opportunity to study a foreign language alongside Bangla and English.

He said that growing cooperation between Bangladesh and China in education, trade, technology and development has made language proficiency increasingly important.
"Our aim is to ensure that language does not become a barrier to bilateral cooperation. That is why Chinese is being given priority as a third language," he said.

Professor Mamun Ahmed also noted that Bangladesh currently faces a shortage of qualified Chinese language teachers and trainers.

To address the issue, he proposed training Bangladeshi teachers with Chinese support and sending local instructors to China for advanced training.

He also suggested introducing Bangla language programmes at Chinese universities, saying such initiatives would further strengthen educational, research and cultural ties between the two countries.

The Chinese delegation included Li Shaofeng, Cultural Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh; Xie Daojing, Third Secretary; Ma Xiaoyiran, Director of the Confucius Institute at North South University; Shen Guihua, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange at Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University; Tong Zhining, Deputy Dean of the School of Civil Engineering; and Zhou Xiaoting, Associate Professor at the same university.