hanghai International Studies University (SISU) established China’s first Center of Excellence for Training Less Commonly Taught Foreign Languages (LCTFL) talents on Augest 21.

SISU’s Vice President, Professor Feng Qinghua said during the launching ceremony that the center would help to cultivate inter-disciplinary talents with high-level skills in cross-cultural communication. He also hopes for more help from experts in cultivating LCTEL talents.

Professor Liu Shuxiong, Chair of Advisory Committee of Less Commonly Taught Languages (ACLCTL) of the Ministry of Education, appreciated SISU’s contribution on the development of LCTFL since 1949. He hoped that the university will keep its academic traditions and meet the country’s demand of LCTFL talents.

Zhong Zhixiang, President of China’s LCTFL Teaching Research Committee, said that the center was first established in China. He pointed out that LCTFL talents should concern about the nation’s and even the world’s changes, helping the world hear China’s voice clearly and trying to strengthen China’s power in international organizations and affairs.

Cheng Tong, Dean of SISU’s School of Asian and African Studies, said that the center’s education will be provided to Chinese and foreign students, including undergraduates, postgraduates, doctors or students from countries involved in the “One Belt and One Road” strategy.

Cheng said that SISU will develop LCTFL courses and majors to cultivate journalistic, juridical and financial talents. He added that the center will also enhance its capacity for research and consultation on national strategic planning.

SISU is now able to teach 19 LCTFL languages – Greek, Italian, Portuguese, Korean, Farsi, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Malay, Swedish, Dutch, Hebrew, Ukrainian, Turkish, Hindi, Urdu, Hungarian, Uzbek and Latin – in forms of majors or courses with bachelor, master and doctoral degrees.

Professor Jiang Jingkui from Peking University, who is member of Education Ministry’s LCTFL Guidance Committee and Vice-President of China’s LCTFL Teaching Research Committee, also attended the ceremony.

SISU established the center of cultivating LCTFL undergraduates in 2001 and set up 2 national featured initiatives in European Languages and Asian & African Languages in 2008, which was both authorized by the Ministry of Education.