According to Dr. Tao Qian, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute in Szeged, the Chinese people are often judged based on their behavior, without being given a chance to understand their true diversity. This is why we asked the head of the institute to tell us a little about the Chinese students studying in Szeged and the guest workers, whose numbers are increasing in our city thanks to the construction of the BYD factory.
The Confucius Institute in Szeged has been operating for more than 10 years under the auspices of the University of Szeged. What are its main goals and most important missions in the city of Szeged?
One of the most important goals of the institute is to promote mutual understanding between the two countries, as well as to support the local community in learning the Chinese language and getting to know the Chinese culture. Furthermore, strengthening the academic cooperation between the two universities (i.e., Shanghai International Studies University and the University of Szeged) is also very important.
How popular are the Chinese language and culture among the students of the University of Szeged?
The students enrolled in the Chinese language courses show great interest in the Chinese language and are enthusiastically learning about Chinese culture.
How many Chinese students are currently studying at the University of Szeged?
Around 280 Chinese students are studying at the University of Szeged.
Among these students, which faculties and majors are the most popular? And how many choose to stay in Hungary, specifically in Szeged, after obtaining their diploma?
What are the characteristics of Chinese students?
Of course, each one of them is different. Some extroverts are open and socialize easily. And there are also introverts among them who rather focus on their studies. However, I can state that they are all kind and friendly.
More and more Chinese entrepreneurs are choosing to settle in Europe, especially in Hungary, such as the BYD electric car factory, which is being built in Szeged. What are Chinese workers like, what characterizes them, and how might they differ from Hungarians?
China is a huge country with many different people, and this may become evident in Szeged in the near future. While university students are well-educated, more polite, and better-mannered, some of the guest workers who will also be employed in Szeged are those who did not have the opportunity to continue their education. Some of the guest workers come from rural regions where educational opportunities were limited, which is why many are employed in manual labor.
But as physical workers, they are diligent and responsible people, although they are also loud, and their behavior may sometimes differ from the average. This can create a bad impression of the Chinese people, which we would like to avoid.
What opportunities does all this create for the university and the Confucius Institute?
By entering Hungary, and specifically Szeged, Chinese enterprises would contribute to the boost of the local economy by creating more jobs for residents. The University of Szeged and the Confucius Institute would like to help with the acquisition of the Chinese language among teachers and students, both at the university and in local secondary and vocational schools.
In addition, we strive to help Hungarians get to know Chinese culture better by providing cultural activities and Chinese language books, thus avoiding misunderstandings or conflicts during communication.
The Hungarian interview by Tamara Póra can be read on the szegednainap.hu website.
Photo: Yvette Frank
