At 60, ECNU program continues to be a magnet for international students

When Vietnamese student Doan Bao Tran stepped onto the campus of East China Normal University in Shanghai, she walked a path her mother had traced two decades earlier.

"ECNU isn't just my school, it's my second home," said Vu Thanh Xuan, Tran's mother, who completed both her master's and doctoral studies at the university. In 2003, Xuan made the decision to leave her 17-month-old daughter in Vietnam to pursue her academic dreams in Shanghai.

After completing her studies, Xuan returned to Vietnam to teach Chinese language at University of Languages and International Studies of Vietnam National University, Hanoi. There, she shared stories of her life in Shanghai, planting seeds of curiosity in the minds of her students, and her own daughter too. "Since I was very young, I had always wondered about life in Shanghai and at ECNU through my mother's stories," said Tran, who is currently studying international business at the university. "Now, I can finally experience it myself."

This mother-daughter story exemplifies the impact of ECNU's international education program and Chinese language instruction, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in October with a series of commemorative events.

From its beginnings with 210 international students in 1965, ECNU has grown to host over 3,100 international students from 114 countries this year, nurturing more than 100,000 overseas alumni over six decades.

The story of ECNU's international education began when China declared international student education as an essential internationalist obligation. As New China's first normal university founded in 1951, ECNU embraced this mission by establishing its foreign student affairs office and Chinese language teaching department.

Among the first cohort of 210 Vietnamese students was Hoang Tra, who arrived at age 18. "The 1960s saw frequent exchanges between Vietnam and China across many fields," Tra said. "I believed learning Chinese would be useful."

After returning to Vietnam in 1966, Tra dedicated four decades to teaching Chinese at Vietnam National University, Hanoi, inspiring many of his students to pursue studies in China and at ECNU.

In 1985, ECNU became one of the first four universities in China to offer an undergraduate program in Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language. This marked the transition of Chinese language education from mere language training to an independent academic discipline.

Today, ECNU offers a comprehensive system of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral programs. The curriculum has expanded beyond traditional language studies to include specialized tracks like business Chinese, adapting to evolving global needs.

David Janna, a 2017 graduate from Colombia who completed the international business program at ECNU, exemplifies the success of this model. "Through China, you can build many bridges in the world," he said. "Whether in trade, education, or culture, I wanted to help foster closer relations between my country, Asia and China."

After graduation, Janna established his own company, facilitating business between multinational companies and contributing to China-Colombia relations.

"ECNU opened China's doors to me, allowing me to explore not just the language, but also culture, commerce and economics."

The 60th anniversary celebrations included the university's 19th international cultural festival, featuring student representatives from 73 countries. The event welcomed nearly 100 international alumni and introduced new cultural pavilions from countries including the Solomon Islands and the Bahamas.

Running parallel to the festival, the second international Chinese language education case competition for postgraduates attracted 3,433 students from 285 universities, showcasing innovative approaches to cultural education. The winning team from ECNU, comprising both Chinese and international students, demonstrated creative methods for teaching advanced Chinese to foreign students.

"We've established a comprehensive academic system covering all levels of international Chinese education," noted Wu Jian, ECNU vice-president. "Over six decades, we've trained more than 100,000 international students and 20,000 overseas Chinese language teachers and educational leaders."

The university plans to enhance program quality, strengthen research capabilities, and expand global partnerships while deepening bilateral and multilateral exchange programs, according to Wu.

For current students like Tran, the experience represents more than academic pursuit. "Studying in China is not just about learning the Chinese language and culture," she said. "It's also a chance to globalize myself while localizing in China."