On October 15th 2020, the first “Online Chinese Language Classroom” was established at the University of the Aegean in Greece. The launch ceremony was held online due to the difficult circumstances of the COVID pandemic, while within the celebrating events of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China for the Celebration of the National Day in Greece.
Η. E. Niki Kerameus, Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, Hellenic Republic, H. E. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of Education, People’s Republic of China, H. E. Ambassador Zhang Qiyue, Embassy of the P. R. China in the Hellenic Republic, and Prof. Chryssi Vitsilaki, Rector of the University of the Aegean, Hellenic Republic, attended the online launch ceremony. Furthermore, many members of the academic community graced with their presence this innovative implementation of the online program.
The ceremony is available to watch online – on the YouTube channel of the University of the Aegean, through the link: https://youtu.be/JyKeE_tLdM8.
The University of the Aegean in a formal collaboration with the Ministry of Education of People’s Republic of China proceeds to an action of global significance – the launch of the first online Chinese language learning program in Greece. The program contains online beginner courses, taught in English for undergraduate students through a digital tailor-made service platform that provides all the necessary and innovative multimedia educational tools. The duration of the program is 12-16 weeks and it is officially scheduled to start by the end of October.
Η. E. Prof. Chryssi Vitsilaki, Rector of the University of the Aegean, during her speech, highlighted the huge interest in Chinese language and culture while the increasing number of registrations in the Program of the academic community members of the University of the Aegean. In the beginning phase, we will proceed with 20 classes with 400 participants, mostly students, and some academics, while we aim at developing the project in the future in order to provide society with the opportunity to better understand and get closer to one of the richest cultures worldwide, creating simultaneously a fertile ground so as to further enhance the relations between the two countries.
Learning the Chinese language gives students the chance to broaden their horizons and their perspectives, and fulfilling their dreams while supporting the ultimate aim of strengthening the bonds between the two countries.
The Rector of the University of the Aegean thanked greatly Niki Kerameus, Greek Minister of Education and Religious Affairs, for this international educational collaboration, pointing out that without her political vision and her Ministry’s active involvement, this successful outcome wouldn’t have been achieved. The last few years, the Greek Ministry of Education and Religious Affairs is internationally oriented, new synergies with foreign institutions have flourished, and a broad spectrum of activities has been promoted, contributing to the extroversion of Greek Higher Education.
Moreover, Prof. Chryssi Vitsilaki warmly thanked H. E. Tian Xuejun, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education, People’s Republic of China, and H. E. Ambassador Zhang Qiyue, Embassy of the P. R. of China in the Hellenic Republic, for the practical support, the confidence as well as the efforts in time and resources invested in this implementation. Besides, they recognized the new path of collaboration, consisting of various common educational interests and activities which ensure the strengthening of the two countries’ relations in the field of Higher Education.
