SDU launches the sub-camp for the MEP Online Summer Camp Program for 2022 on July 4. [Photo/sdu.edu.cn]

Shandong University (SDU) attended the opening ceremony of the Mandarin Excellence Programme (MEP) Online Summer Camp Program for 2022 and simultaneously launched the SDU sub-camp with four UK schools, which was held on July 4 to boost educational cooperation between China and the United Kingdom.

Ma Xiaole, dean of the College of International Education (CIE) of SDU said that this summer camp will provide an opportunity for British students to learn Chinese, and opens up a new prospect for the cooperation and exchanges of Chinese language education between SDU and the UK educational community.

Ma also expressed her wishes for UK students to master the methods of learning Chinese, improve their understanding of Chinese culture, and form friendships with Chinese teachers and students.

After the launch ceremony, CIE will offer two-week Chinese language and culture courses to 111 students from four UK schools via livestream lectures, interviews and discussions.

The courses are themed on four topics - "Panda and Zoo", "Sports and Modern Life", "Chinese Campus Life", and "History and Cultural Heritage", and include various cultural experience activities such as "Virtual Visits to Chinese Cities", "Virtual Visits to Chinese Familes", and "Virtual Sino-UK Concert", which provides a rich and diverse learning experience for British students.

Established and funded by the Department for Education of the British government, and delivered by the UCL Institute of Education in partnership with the British Council and Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, MEP mainly serves to help more students speak fluent Chinese and organizes annual intensive study for students who have already gained basic knowledge of the Chinese language.

SDU has been undertaking annual training for students from four UK schools since 2019.