Sias University founded the School of Chinese Language & Culture in April 2011 to meet the development needs of international education, expand the scale of the recruitment of international students, promote exchanges between Chinese and foreign students, and standardize the teaching and management of international students. Later, it was officially renamed the School of International Education in July 2019, with the responsibility of international student education, international promotion of cultural projects and Chinese as a foreign language, and other international exchanges.
The School of International Education has over 300 international students from over 30 countries including the United States, Spain, Morocco, Moldova, Thailand, Russia, Belarus, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mongolia, Laos, Nepal, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The school has 2 sub-divisions: The Office of the School of International Education, and the Teaching & Research Section of Chinese as a Foreign Language. There are 10 full-time teachers, including 3 associate professors, 6 lecturers, and 1 teaching assistant. There are 10 postgraduates, including 1 Ph.D.
The School of International Education is committed to establishing long-term and close exchanges and cooperation with foreign universities, Confucius institutes, and Chinese language schools. It has carried out exchanges and cooperation with over 180 universities across 50 countries including the United States, Thailand, Spain, Indonesia, and Malaysia. International students at the school can study for B.A., B.B.A., and B.S. degree programs with Sias University and Fort Hays State University in Kansas, U.S.A. International students can choose to study in the Sino-U.S. double degree program as well.
In addition to the training and management of international students, the school also undertakes part of the university's international exchange work. During the International Culture Week, and the summer vacation, overseas cultural exchange groups visit Sias for study experience and the International Summer Camp.
On October 28th, 2019, the 12th “Chinese Bridge” World Middle School Chinese Competition, sponsored by the Confucius Institute Headquarters and the People's Government of Henan, and organized by Henan's Department of Education, the People's Government of Zhengzhou City, and Henan Radio & Television Station, was held at Sias University. Nearly 300 teachers and students from 105 countries participated in the competition and experienced various aspects of Chinese culture such as dragon and lion dances, calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and various Chinese musical instruments. The event was covered by 32 domestic and international media outlets. In Xinhua News Agency's annual "This is China" photograph in 2019, a student from Comoros, an island nation in the Indian Ocean, was featured experiencing the traditional Lion Dance at Sias University. Almost 100 student representatives from Sias were volunteers and student assistants at the event.
In November 2019, with the approval of the Henan Department of Education and the Henan Chinese Promotion Office, the School of International Education was approved as a Sino-U.S. cultural practice base. The school also reached an agreement with the International Exchange & Cooperation Department of the Henan Department of Education and the Department of Education of Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A. Each year, the school selects and sends outstanding Chinese students to be volunteer Chinese teachers and American teaching assistants to the United States for paid internships for a year. Every summer vacation, the Department of Education of Salt Lake City organizes a student delegation to visit Sias and participate in the International Summer Camp. Chinese students can also participate in the International Summer Camp as student assistants to promote exchanges and interaction between Chinese students and international students.
As the Belt & Road Initiative develops, Chinese teachers are in short supply, despite being ambassadors of international cultural exchange. The School of International Education at Sias is the headquarters of the Confucius Institute, and the Henan Examination Center for the Certification of Teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language, as designated by the Henan Department of Education and the Chinese International Promotion Office. Every year, the school is responsible for selecting and recommending excellent students to teach at Confucius Institutes, Confucius Classrooms, and Chinese language schools all over the world.
The exchange programs aim to improve mutual understanding and respect between students from different countries and regions, improve their language ability, understand foreign cultures, and enhance their international experience. Sias University has established cooperative agreements with over 180 universities in 50 countries to send exchange students to study abroad. The School of International Education is responsible for teaching Chinese and professional courses to international students from overseas partner universities. At the same time, students from Sias have several opportunities to go to partner universities for exchanges. The Academic Affairs Office identifies the academic majors that students choose to ensure that the credits of the courses that they study in partner universities can be transferred smoothly.
Campus Cultural Activities
The School of International Education organizes and carries out various campus activities based on 4 themes - Teaching Practice, Cultural Communication, Integration into the Campus, and Characteristic Activities. These activities are set up to enrich the spare time of international students and provide Chinese students with an opportunity and platform for international exchanges. Chinese students can not only participate in cultural activities but also join the Student Assistant Group to become Chinese teaching assistants for international students.
The school organizes the Sias International Students' Chinese Speech Contest. Each international student has a Chinese teaching assistant who is responsible for guiding the content of the speech.
In the weekly "Chinese Corner", international students practice their Chinese conversation with Chinese students, learn traditional Chinese calligraphy, take part in Tea Ceremonies, and experience traditional crafts such as pottery and Chuantuo.
International students also take part in the Dragon Boat Festival (Duan Wu Jie), Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhong Qiu Jie), Winter Solstice Festival (Dong Zhi), Spring Festival (Chun Jie), and other Chinese festivals, with the school organizing cultural experience activities for each festival.
The International Culture Week is one of the most international activities at Sias University. There are exhibitions of calligraphy and art made by international students, food from all over the world, distinctive experiences of traditional cultures, high-level international cultural lectures, and international student evening parties. The International Culture Week has brought diversity and vision to Sias that allows both Chinese and international students to communicate with, learn from, and inspire each other.
International students also participate in Sias' Candlelight Ceremony, Homecoming Parade, Track & Field Games, Badminton Tournament, Football Tournament, High Table Banquet, and Graduation Ceremony, along with Chinese students, so that they are integrated into the campus culture.
In the past 2 years, international students have participated in several off-campus competitions such as the "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Speech Contest, the Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, the National College Students' Dragon & Lion Dance Championship, and the 2018 Luoning Bicycle Race. Students have also visited the Shaolin Temple, Luoyang, and Chenjiagou [birthplace of Taiji Boxing] for Chinese cultural experiences.
In the past 12 years, Sias University has trained a large number of international students. They have been able to understand China, learn Chinese, experience Chinese culture, and learn a variety of professional skills. They are cultural envoys, spreading Chinese culture to countries across the world.
Leadership
Vice Dean & Deputy Party Secretary - Chen Jiaojiao
Research Institutes
Institute of Applied Linguistics
