IBA students can learn Chinese in their free time

12. januar 202328. juni 2024

„Ni Hao.‟ At the IBA International Business Academy, many students are familiar with the polite Chinese greeting, along with numerous other phrases from China.

Tre drenge på trappen — Chinese is the world’s most spoken language. And at the IBA, the course is a standing offer, which Bastian Ahlman Jensen (left), Andreas Vesti Grundahl, and Mads Toftelund Knudsen have chosen to embrace alongside their studies in Production Technology.

The academy offers its students the standing opportunity to learn Chinese in their free time. Bastian Ahlman Jensen, Mads Toftelund Knudsen, and Andreas Vesti Grundahl have seized this opportunity while pursuing their studies in Production Technology.

„I found it interesting. Chinese seems very relevant to me, both in relation to my education and future opportunities,‟ says Bastian.

The trio has just completed the first course, consisting of 12 double lessons in the Chinese language. Additionally, they have participated in Business Chinese Culture, conducted in English, focusing on practical aspects of conducting business with the Chinese.

„That part has probably been the most useful initially. But if you want to work more with China in the long run, knowing the language is undoubtedly a great help,‟ says Mads.

„The courses are divided into stages, so you’re not committed to anything. Once you’ve completed a module, there’s just a new open door you can choose to walk through.‟ says Bastian

Studerende på IBA lærer kinesisk efter skoletid. — – If you want to meet students from other classes, learning Chinese is also a great opportunity, as the instruction is interdisciplinary. We have certainly made many acquaintances whom we meet at the weekly student bar and spend time with during our free time, says Mads Toftelund Knudsen (on the right).

A trip to Shanghai

Both Bastian and Mads have part-time jobs in large companies with business operations in China, Denmark’s fifth-largest trading partner. Their employers have noticed their dedication to learning the Chinese language and culture in their spare time.

„In the projects we have with China, I’ve been allowed to contribute my knowledge. And if I go to Shanghai this summer, it’s agreed that I will visit our department there and get a tour,‟ says Mads.

And such a visit is a real possibility. When participants like Mads, Andreas, and Bastian engage in Chinese studies at the IBA, they can apply for a spot at the annual summer school held in Shanghai.

„So if you have some free time you want to use for something other than playing computer games or watching TV, learning Chinese definitely gets my recommendation. It’s a good idea to try. Also, to broaden your horizons and learn about cultures other than those you know from German and English classes in elementary school,‟ says Mads.

Studerende læser kinesisk i fritiden. — – I like trying new things, so it was just an obvious opportunity to sign up for Chinese and learn about both the language and the culture, says Andreas Vesti Grundahl (in the middle).

International DNA

The IBA’s offering of Chinese stems from a close collaboration with Shanghai Lixin University of Accounting and Finance, which operates the Confucius Institute at the IBA. The purpose is to promote trade, friendship, and understanding between Danes and Chinese. Similar institutes exist in many other countries.

The agreement for the Confucius Institute at the IBA has recently been extended for five years, a development that Vice Rector Jeanette Lemmergaard welcomes:

„At the IBA, the international aspect is a significant part of our DNA, so we are pleased to renew the collaboration with the Confucius Institute. We know from our students that they see excellent opportunities in learning Chinese while studying here.‟

IBA Confucius Institute

Anyone can participate in Chinese classes at the IBA International Business Academy. For IBA students, it is free, while others pay a fee to join.

The classes cover Chinese language, culture, as well as Business Chinese and Culture. Private lessons are also available for a fee. The instruction is organized into modules based on difficulty levels.

Established in October 2015, the IBA Confucius Institute is supported by the Confucius Institute Headquarters in Beijing, China.

The purpose of the Confucius Institute is to enhance collaboration between the education and business sectors of China and Denmark, foster understanding and friendship between the two countries, and support the development of Chinese language education.