UCC, the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies and UCC Confucius Institute, bit farewell to newly awarded scholarship students and to students attending a cultural exchange summer camp in Shanghai. 

The event was marked by a call from Professor David Cox, Head of the College of Arts, Celtic Studies and Social Sciences to embrace the new economic and cultural prospects that China and Asia have to offer to young Irish students. 
Professor Cox reiterated the point by emphasising how vital it is for a country like Ireland to have an outward perspective towards the world and especially towards China and Asia. “China”, he said, “presents huge opportunities for young Irish graduates to develop their careers in many different fields”.

His points where further reiterated by the First Education Secretary from the Embassy of the Peoples Republic of China to Ireland Mr Dong Huiqing who focused on the value of the cultural ties between the two countries. 

Also speaking at the event was Cork Cllr. and Deputy Lord Mayor John Buttimer who pressed the importance of cultural exchange between the Ireland and China which continues through the ongoing twinning between Cork and Shanghai. 

The nine UCC students, who won the Scholarships to Shanghai University and Fudan University in Shanghai, are all students from the Irish Institute of Chinese Studies in UCC. 

There are 50 students from Irish universities attending the China summer camp at Shanghai University. The two-week's summer camp is partially sponsored by the Headquarters of Confucius Institute (Hanban)in Beijing.  

The Farewell reception took place on Thursday in O’Rahilly Building in UCC.