As Makerere University prepares to respond to the national and global need for personnel who are knowledgeable in Chinese language and Asian Studies, we intend to launch the Bachelor of Chinese and Asian studies in the Department of European and Oriental Languages. This is a programme that will carry the learners with no prior knowledge of Chinese to the Advanced Level through intensive practical methods. The programme will, in addition to language and intercultural competence, expose students to the development strategies of the Asian Continent and make comparative analyses of the various axes of development in Africa. It is intended that by learning from the Chinese and Asian experiences, the students will apply the acquired knowledge to the development of Uganda and beyond.
As our catchment area will depend on employers of graduates with Chinese proficiency and international organisations cooperating with the Asian countries, we have planned for a stake holders’ consultation to receive views about this new programme. Your presence will be highly appreciated specifically, as we assess whether this programme will bridge the existing gaps in the knowledge, skills, attitude and competence for the Uganda, East African and African job market at large.