As China has become an active and influential player in the 21^st century world, this programme aims to train students to be both locally rooted and globally connected. By locally rooted, we mean that our students develop a deep understanding of Chinese culture and its ramifications in society, economy, and daily practices. They are confident of who they are, namely, contemporary persons shaped by thousands of years of Chinese tradition. By globally connected, we mean that our students are able to see diversity as the main characteristic of the 21^st century world. They are skillful in communicating with people around the world with their different cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Based on a curriculum that combines classical studies, communication theory, comparative literature, linguistic theory, philology, sinology, and intellectual history, this programme provides students a holistic training that prepares them to excel in cross-cultural enterprises, multi-national corporations, and transnational agencies.

The goal of this programme is to provide students with interdisciplinary training in the fields of communicative arts, media studies, classical studies, and cultural studies, preparing them for the competitive global market of the 21st century. This programme is unique in combining critical thinking and practical skills, historical insights and contemporary awareness, global perspective, and local sensitivity, fostering students’ long-term interest in China as an active player in the world.

1) Provide students a basic knowledge of Chinese culture and communication theories;

2) Train students to think critically and to use cultural and communicative resources to connect with the international community;

3) Teach students how to understand Chinese culture from a global perspective, and how to find appropriate measures to resolve cultural and communicative problems in real life.

Compared with other similar programmes offered in regional universities, the uniqueness of CCGC at UIC lies in 3 points:

1) CCGC uses English as the main teaching media, which can help students communicate with scholars world-wide;

2) CCGC is an interdisciplinary programme, which consists of culture, communication, Sinology and other related fields;

3) CCGC emphasizes a balance between knowledge and practice, China and the World, with solid training in traditional culture and modern communication.

In short, this programme prepares students to be locally rooted and globally connected.