Dar es Salaam University Introduces Chinese Language Course

THE University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) has introduced courses on Chinese language to be offered at its Confucius Institute to facilitate communication for local traders going to China for business.

UDSM Deputy Vice Chancellor (Administration), Prof Yunus Mgaya, told a press conference in Dar es Salaam on Friday that the Confucius Institute (CI) would be officially launched at Mwalimu Nyerere Mlimani campus on October 9 this year.

"The institute is a non-profit educational organization with its headquarters in Beijing in China while most of its branches are housed in the universities around the world," noted the Deputy Vice Chancellor.

Prof Mgaya pointed out that the institute, which was established in January 2013, has so far organized and conducted a summer camp and four short courses in which 68 students were enrolled to learn Chinese language as well as Taiji and Kungfu.

"Soon after its launching, from mid October 2013, CI at the UDSM plans to start teaching Chinese short courses in general Chinese, Chinese for business and Chinese for tourism, each of which will run for three months," he said.

Prof Mgaya said the UDSM would also offer an intensive Chinese language course that will be offered for one academic year, adding that the institute would later on introduce the course at the undergraduate level.

He said the goal of establishing the institute was to improve the knowledge of Chinese culture in general, saying the institute also provides professional services for government, non-governmental organizations, the diplomatic community and the general public.

"The institute will facilitate collaborative research programmes and projects between the UDSM and universities in China," he said.

UDSM becomes the second university to introduce courses on Chinese language after the University of Dodoma (UDOM) which introduced the courses in April this year.