Posted 02 December 2009
Reports call for Mandarin Chinese in schools to assist sustainable business relationships with China
“An ability to communicate in Chinese, and an understanding of Chinese culture, are major advantages to doing business in China,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs, Micheál Martin TD, who last month launched two reports by the UCD Confucius Institute and the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies at UCD.
The studies reveal that there is high demand among Irish companies (over 78%) for university level graduates who combine Business with Chinese studies.
Almost 90% of respondents also reported that information about Chinese business practice was essential for doing business in China. But, three out of every five respondents had not participated in training in culture, language or doing business in China.
Pictured at the launch (l-r): Dr Philip Nolan, Deputy President, UCD, Micheál Martin TD, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Liu Biwei and Dr Liming Wang Director of the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies at UCD
According to the studies, while in the UK almost 13% of all secondary schools provide Mandarin teaching, and in Australia it is on the school curriculum from primary level, Chinese is not on the Irish curriculum. Only six schools in Ireland have run teaching programmes of any kind in Mandarin Chinese.
A lack of language ability and a lack of understanding of Chinese culture were identified by the studies as forming major barriers to doing business in China.
The reports make it clear that Ireland must act fast with long-term strategies. Ireland is in a position to learn from the experiences of other countries.
Recommendations from the studies include:
- Further Government support is needed to develop degree programmes, such as undergraduate and post graduate programmes that combine Chinese with the study of business, law or politics
- The Chinese language should be part of the second level curriculum
- Up-to-date information on China and the Chinese market should be made readily available to Irish companies
- More support for Irish companies to establish local representative offices in China
- Greater awareness needs to be established among Irish companies of Irish social and business networks in China.
Dr Liming Wang, Director of the Irish Institute for Chinese Studies at UCD, and the UCD Confucius Institute for Ireland, said it wants to provide the Irish Government with quality information about the cultural barriers Irish firms are confronting when conducting business in China.
“We want to assist higher education to keep pace with new demands of Irish business in today’s rapidly changing world,” he said.
Launching the reports Minister Martin said the dramatic economic growth of China and the development of its relations with the international community present great opportunities for mutual growth.
“Ireland’s bilateral trade with China is increasing year-on-year. These excellent reports will assist greatly in strategic planning to avail of those opportunities,” he said.
The study acknowledges the pressures on curriculum time and identifies the need for official support and promotion and overall, the development of a long-term strategy.
The two studies launched by the Minister are: ‘Demand for Mandarin Chinese teaching in Irish Post-Primary Schools’ and ‘Irish Business in China, Meeting the Inter-Cultural Challenges.’ They are available for viewing at - www.confuciusinstitute.ie
(Produced by UCD University Relations)
