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Upon his graduation ceremony Philip Nicod from Switzerland smiled brightly like the sunshine of the same summer day, as he received a diploma from Cao Hongyue, dean of the School of International Education at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE). Nicod is one of the 1,250 plus foreign students from 58 countries who came to study in the university this year. "I first happened to tour China in 1997 as a teenager in high school. Although only a short trip, back home after that, I could not forget China," said Nicod, in his early 20s, who has been studying here for over two years, first learning Chinese, then studying the foreign trade major. "I wanted to learn more about China, and I have been happy with the campus life here, getting mixed with many Chinese friends," said Nicod, in fluent Chinese. He was about to join with a group of friends, both Chinese and foreign, for a party to celebrate their graduation. His coming to China to study in the university was recommended by his friends, a couple, who have been studying for a year here. "They are interested in China, but for me it is not merely an interest," he said. "I paid the tuition and all the other costs with my own money - it is also an investment for my future." Nicod paid US$1,000 dollars for half a year of tuition fees, and said the cost is average. Nicod has been reaching his goal - learning Chinese as something serious, not as a hobby or just for fun. "I hope when I go back home, I can join in a company which will send me back to China to do businesses, because I have relevant knowledge, Chinese friends and many good relations in China." Nicod mixes well with Chinese people, making friends with them. "Practice is important to grasp the language, and I also often go out to take part in activities with my Chinese friends," he said. "It is important that you don't limit yourself to foreign circles here, because it's natural to meet people from different places with different attitudes and habits. All that (sticking with foreign friends), you can do back home, and you don't need to be in Beijing." According to Cao, dean of the School of International Education of UIBE, the university aims at attracting more and more foreigners to come study Chinese and future majors of international business and the like. "We hope we can teach more foreign students who know China well and love China," said Cao. Having been recruiting foreign students as early as 1954, the university saw a great growth in the number of foreign students learning Chinese here since 1992, Cao said. "At the end of 1991, there were only 30 foreign students on campus, but in 1995 the figure grew to over 500." Unlike other colleges which focus on teaching Chinese as a foreign language, Cao and his faculties went one step further by recruiting them into major studies, so that they could get a Bachelor's degree starting in 1993, and a Master's degree since 1995. "We open more majors to foreign students to study, and to ensure internationalization in teaching, we have carried out many courses in which teachers teach all through the course in English language, such as international accounting, finance, trade, law and so on," Cao said. As Cao believs, the craze to learn Chinese has been triggered by the reform and open-door policy in China. "The World Chinese Conference is sure to help propel the growing speed, and we hope foreign students can learn more than merely the Chinese language here, but a comprehensive range of knowledge, like in other top universities worldwide," Cao said. He hopes that, holding a competitive diploma, his foreign students like Nicod, can gain a sharper edge along their job-seeking road. China Daily 07/15/2005 |
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