Nenagh College Principal, Damien Kennedy and Micheal O Connor, Principal Coláiste Phobal Ros Cré, recently joined ETB and Community & Comprehensive Principals from Galway and Cork on a delegation to Shanghai University as part of the partnership with UCC Confucius Centre and Irish schools to promote the study of Chinese language and culture in Irish schools.

The Principals were accompanied by Mr. Yongbin.Xia, Director of the Confucius centre in UCC.

The delegates visited Shanghai University where they met with Irish students from UCC who are currently studying there.

They also visited LuWan Senior High School in Shanghai which is home to 35,000 students ranging in age from nine to eighteen years old.

Ms. Therese Healy, Consul General at the Consulate General of Ireland, hosted a reception for the delegation where she outlined in great detail the benefits of the exchange programme for the Irish economy.  She emphasised the expansive opportunities available to young Irish people in Shanghai and the level of support available to Irish students and graduates when they arrive in Shanghai.

Eight students from Nenagh College participated in the Summer Programme at Shanghai University in 2015.  The Confucius Centre has extended an invitation to students to participate in their Easter Programme in 2016 which will coincide this year with the Shanghai St. Patrick’s Day festivities.

All Transition Year students in Nenagh College currently study a Chinese language module while Chinese Cultural Studies has been introduced this year for first year students also.

Pictured are the delegates with Ms. Therese Healy, Consul General and Mr. Yongbin Xia, UCC Confucius centre.