Interview: Learning Mandarin has tangible benefits, says UK university head

BELFAST, Britain, April 2 (Xinhua) -- Considering the importance of China in the world today, students may find multiple benefits in learning Mandarin through the on-campus branch of the Confucius Institute, Paul Bartholomew, the vice-chancellor of Belfast-based Ulster University, told Xinhua recently.

According to Bartholomew, learning Mandarin can significantly enhance students' chances of landing a high-quality job with international significance after graduation. And seen in a broader context, the better people and nations can communicate with one another, the easier it becomes to join forces for the common good across language and cultural divides.

Bartholomew believes that as we all share one planet, we need to share the challenges this planet presents us with. But, "how can we share those challenges if we can't talk to one another?" He asked.

"So absolutely, the knowledge of languages and a shared culture and perspective are important for people to understand each other, so that together we can all take responsibility for our shared future," he stressed.

As part of the cooperation between the two sides, Ulster University has partnered up with several Chinese universities, including the Shaanxi University of Science and Technology.

"We are a university of, and for, the world and China is a major player in the world," both regarding the size of its population and its economy, stressed Bartholomew.

Therefore, "our university has seen the tremendous opportunity to work with China. We already do so with partnerships with institutions in China. And we'll continue to do that," he said.

Bartholomew's visits to China have left him impressed by the friendly and warm welcome he received from Chinese people. "My impression of China is that Chinese people are really wonderful," he told Xinhua.

He also spoke highly of the diligence of Chinese students taking part in the exchange programs hosted by Ulster University.

"Many of them are high-performing students, who do very well on our programs here. I think it's very impressive," he said.

He also stressed the importance of strong interpersonal relationships, which helped to maintain the partnerships the university has with Chinese institutions throughout the difficult times of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"A cooperation based on personal relationships allows better mutual understanding, better sharing of perspectives and acknowledging that we all share one planet, therefore we have a responsibility to work together for the solutions that our planet requires," he said.