Irish Studies Centre To Open At Shanghai University

An Irish Studies Centre is set to be established at Shanghai University in a bid to strengthen links between University College Cork (UCC) and China.

Minister for Education and Skills Joe McHugh T.D. announced the development on Wednesday 20 March, in front of UCC representatives and several other Irish third level institutions, as part of his St Patrick's Day programme.

Shanghai selected UCC as one of 16 universities worldwide to deepen relationships with, due to its reputation for excellence in food science, the arts and business.

UCC has had a growing relationship with Shanghai University since 2005 and hosts regular reciprocal visits by administrative and academic staff, bolstered by the twinning of cities of Shanghai and Cork. Student exchanges initiated in 2011, with six exchange students attending UCC from SHU every year.

Minister McHugh welcomed the development: "The creation in Shanghai University of a centre for Irish Studies is significant in so many ways. It demonstrates the great interest in and awareness of Irish culture and heritage in China, and the growing demand for Chinese students to experience world-class teaching in this area. It is a testament to the excellence of academia in UCC that Shanghai University has chosen Ireland and UCC to partner with, and it is a tribute to the work that has been conducted by the UCC and Shanghai teams to build relationships and understanding, in the global context.

"The Government's Global Ireland Framework aims to double Ireland's global footprint by 2025, and institutes like this are a crucial part of this concept- building cultural understanding and friendship among peoples and among nations."

The new Irish Studies Centre has been developed through UCC's Confucius Institute and International Office. It will offer an Irish Studies pathway for a diploma for students in the university, as well as lectures in Irish culture from visiting UCC academics. The centre will also help facilitate research by matching SHU and UCC academics for projects

Minister McHugh added: "I look forward to much more cultural exchange between our two countries, to the fruits of enhanced cooperation and the enriched research that will flow from this unique partnership.

"This development is the result of much work on both sides, and I congratulate the teams involved in both universities, and wish every success to all involved in making this centre an outstanding success."



(JG/CM)