Students interested in participating in this camp should email an expression of interest to ty@kinsalecommunityschool.ie. by Wed Oct 15th. Upon receipt of this email we will send you the required application form. Completed application forms must be returned to school by Fri Oct 18th

See below a brief description of the camp and the requirements. KCS can nominate 2 students only so places will be allocated by lottery if there are more than 2 students interested.

The Study in China 2020 Easter Camp Program is a two-week program in Shanghai. It is jointly organised by UCC Confucius Institute, Irish Institute of Chinese Studies (UCC) and Shanghai University and sponsored by the Headquarters of Confucius Institute (Hanban). It provides an opportunity for non-Chinese students in Irish second level schools (mainly Transition Year students) to visit China and to learn its language and culture.

Application Requirements

The programme is open to TY students who have studied Chinese Language and Culture at Irish secondary schools in Ireland.

Applicants should meet the following requirements:

1.   Non-Chinese nationality

2.  Show a great interest in Chinese culture and language and have been/will be  studying Chinese for more than 12 weeks in schools until the middle of March  2020.

3.  As a Transition Year Student studying Chinese Culture & Language, and preferably has taken/will take part in the YCT /HSK Test and Chinese Bridge Competition at UCC in March 2020.

4.  Enthusiastic, sociable and well suited to the group activities of the  programme.

5.  Participates with the permission of the students’ parents/guardians.

 6.  Recommended by their school Principal, Transition Year coordinator and Chinese teacher.

Programme

1.   Duration: 3 April – 17 April 2020 (dates of travel to be confirmed in Nov.)

2.   Number of participants: Unlike previous years, there are only 80 funded places available for the 2020 Easter Camp. This means one place for each school. Schools are invited to submit a total of 2 applications ranked 1 to 2. A waiting list will then be created pending further places being available due to cancellations.

3. Classroom study programme:

(a) Chinese Language (Mandarin), Calligraphy, Martial Arts, Chinese Culture and    History, Chinese songs, aspects of China from both traditional and modern perspectives through courses, lectures, visits and hands-on learning experiences

(b) Shanghai City Sightseeing, Field trips to Suzhou and Hangzhou city

(c) Discussion groups with young Chinese students in SHU or other schools

 

4. Accommodation: Students will stay in dormitory accommodation on the campus of Shanghai University, mainly twin/treble-room suites with shared bathroom.

The cost of the programme in China will be covered by UCC Confucius Institute and Shanghai University including accommodation, food (RMB 300 allowance provided in cash), and fees for camp courses and trips. Participants will be responsible for the cost of their vaccines, visa, international flights, travel/medical/accidental insurance and any other costs not related to the official programme of the Easter Camp.

 

5. Travel: Participants should purchase their own designated flight tickets recommended by UCC Confucius Institute after your application is accepted and confirmed by email or in writing from UCC Confucius Institute. The UCC Confucius Institute will not be responsible for the booking of air tickets for anyone unless a group booking is done by UCC Confucius Institute. If participants have booked the wrong air tickets, or miss their flights, UCC Confucius Institute will not provide any financial support for rebooking or change of flights in China or in Ireland. The Confirmation of a place on the Study Course will contain the date, flight number and time of flights to be booked.

UCC CI staff will accompany students on the designated flights ex-Cork. It is vital that successful applicants make sure they are receiving the emails sent by the Confucius Institute staff.

 

6. Visa: The UCC Confucius Institute will organise the visa application process for all students in the beginning of February, it will take about 5 working days to process in the Chinese Embassy in Dublin, so all participants’ passports must be submitted to UCC Confucius Institute between January 7th and January 17th, 2020 via your Chinese teachers or via registered post, the visa application form must be submitted with attached documents as outlined in the programme document sent to all successful applicants. If you fail to submit all of the required documentation for the visa application during the above dates then you will have to apply for the visa on your own in Dublin. Students must make sure there are more than 6 months remaining on their passport after the last day of Easter Camp. In other words their passport is not due for renewal before the 17th October 2020.

 

 

7. Information: An orientation meeting for successful applicants will take place on March 19th , 2020 in UCC, with further email notice confirmation. All participants and a parent/guardian must attend. Passports and visas will be returned to applicants on that day, otherwise it will be returned to you by registered mail or by your Chinese teachers. All contact with successful applicants will be by email. A student email is not sufficient. The email of a Parent/Guardian is mandatory.

 

Successful applicants will receive a detailed information pack with forms to be completed and returned. The deadline for the return of these forms will be given in the pack. It is vital that parents study this information carefully with their son/daughter.