Shanghai International Studies University (China) SISU begins to offer degree program in Romanian language

Shanghai International Studies University (SISU) begins to offer degree program in Romanian language this year to promote East European studies and cultivate talents for diplomatic and international affairs.

After a year’s preparation approved by the Ministry of Education, SISU’s School of Russian and Eurasian Studies is poised to recruit some 10 Romanian major students in September this year.

Students of this major will not only receive skills training in Romanian listening, speaking, reading, writing and translation, but also learn Romanian literature, history, politics, economy, diplomacy, social culture and other aspects in order to prepare them for future translation, research, teaching and management work.

“Our training goal is to cultivate inter-disciplinary talents with strong skills in cross-cultural communication,” Zhang Wanxu, a faculty member in Romanian major said, “our teaching approaches will adapt to the situation and progress of each student.”

According to Zhang, this major’s faculty are professors from China and Romania and more experts are being employed.

The school also plans to cooperate with Babeș-Bolyai University which has ranked top among Romanian universities since 2016 according to the Romanian Ministry of Education and Research.

“To better understand Romanian culture and history, students can study in Romania for one year as part of the exchange program. Their study will be sponsored by the China’s Scholarship Council,” said Zhang.

Responding to the national strategy of developing “the Belt and Road” is the main reason for launching Romanian major. Romania has fruitfully cooperated with China in politics, education, economics and business since it joined this strategy, but the shortage of talents prevents the sustainable development of bilateral relationship between the two countries.

SISU is China’s leading univeresity for global and area studies. Currently, SISU offer courses in 49 languages, including 37 modern languages and 12 classical and constructed languages.