A Flying Start for Chinese Studies at UiB

The newly established bachelor programme in Chinese studies which starts this autumn will receive 20 students every other year. But already in the first round of applications 59 prospective students have selected the programme as their first choice.

– It’s very encouraging that so many have applied, and we wish to expand the programme with more admissions, says section leader Ronald Worley at the Faculty of Humanities to Studvest.

But in spite of its popularity the bachelor programme in Chinese studies will not be expanded just yet.

– The programme is just getting started, and we’re working on getting all the academic staff in place. We don’t want to rush it, and we need to be certain that we’re capable of offering all the students good quality through teaching and supervision, says Worley.

Internationally essential

Solveig Holm, director of international relations at the Bergen Chamber of Commerce and Industry, is of the opinion that knowledge about language and culture is essential in international interactions. Students with a background in Chinese in addition to other subjects have an advantage. Therefore she thinks it is important to expand the programme.

– China is an important market for Norwegian businesses, and the need for knowledge about Chinese language and culture is considerable.

Awaiting funding

Vice-Rector for education Kuvvet Atakan tells Studvest that it would be unwise to increase student admissions to Chinese studies before the funding is in place. – The financing of admissions to Chinese studies is based on previous allocations. There must be a thorough evaluation to determine if there is a basis for increasing these funds in the future. This is something which first needs to be discussed further internally at the faculty, says Atakan.

Translated from the Norwegian by Øyvind Gjerstad