WBSU set to introduce Chinese, Korean courses

Kolkata: The West Bengal State University (WBSU) is planning to introduce a short-term course in Chinese and Korean language from this academic year, which the varsity feels will be a stride towards alternative employment for the students.

"We have done a survey and have found out that if English and Chinese or English and Korean can be taught side by side, there is great scope for procuring job as ambassadors in China and Korea. We want to tap this opportunity and for this, we are planning to introduce certificate or diploma courses in both languages," WBSU vice-chancellor Basab Chaudhuri said.

It has been learnt that Chaudhuri had visited Korea and had found that most of the people in the country are very weak in English. A teacher for Korean language has already been roped in, while the search for a Chinese teacher is on. "We are in talks with the Chinese Consulate in Kolkata in this regard," Chaudhuri said.

Separate workshops have been held in both Chinese and Korean languages in the varsity and the students have shown a lot of interest in them. The head of the department of English has been given the responsibility to speed up the process of starting courses in these foreign languages. There have been a number of complaints regarding WBSU's delay in publication of results and other irregularities in academics.

"We will be having our second convocation on February 25 and Padmanabhan Balaram, former director of Indian Institute of Science, will be the chief guest," Chaudhuri said.

WBSU is also roping in eminent scientists, philosophers and scholars from across the globe, for delivering lectures to motivate the students.

There are as many as 30 departments in the university and all the traditional subjects taught in Calcutta University are being taught in WBSU as well. 46 colleges in North 24-Parganas are affiliated to WBSU and there are as many as 1.5 lakh students.