UCC providing free Chinese lessons for five councillors and 18 County Council staff
Cork County Council is offering free Chinese language lessons to five councillors and 18 staff members through a partnership with UCC's Confucius Institute. The initiative aims to strengthen cultural and business ties with the Jiangsu province in China.
Why it matters
Local government investment in language and cultural training reflects the increasing importance of international trade and diplomatic relations at the regional level.
Cllr Frank O'Flynn during his time in China as Cork County Mayor, in 2024.
Sean O’Riordan FIVE Cork county councillors and 18 members of staff are learning Chinese as part of an eight-week course being provided free of charge by UCC.
The Chinese classes for the staff and councillors are part of a collaborative programme between the Council and the Confucius Institute of UCC, whereby the Confucius Institute provides two teachers, once a week, to teach the Chinese classes in County Hall.
A Council spokesperson told The Echo that the council has a long-standing "sister-region partnership" with Jiangsu province in China.
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