Solan, May 26
The first official Test of Chinese as a Foreign Language (TOCFL) Mandarin Exam, was conducted in collaboration with the Taiwan Embassy by Shoolini University, setting a precedent for the entire Himachal Pradesh region.
The event saw enthusiastic participation from 23 Shoolini students, alongside three examinees from IIT Ropar. The presence of Taiwanese Mandarin teacher Mr. Xiao Jia-feng and the Chief Invigilator Ms. Ho Mei-Tzu, an officer from the TOCFL Mandarin exam centre of the Taiwan Embassy, added to the exam’s credibility and importance. Ms Ho, who also teaches Mandarin at the Bluebells International School in New Delhi, travelled from New Delhi to Shoolini to conduct the exam.
In an additional highlight, three Shoolini students undertook the higher-level Band A exam for the first time. Achieving Band A certificates is expected to significantly enhance their career prospects in the Chinese-speaking world and with international companies. The Taiwan Education Center has committed to recommending these students for job interviews with prominent Taiwanese companies, including Foxconn in India. Notably, Foxconn manufactures 70% of iPhones globally. Shoolini University is planning to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Foxconn in July, allowing Shoolini students to bypass the initial document review stage, which is typically a highly competitive process.
Furthermore, students who participated in the TOCFL exam can now apply for the Annual MOE Mandarin Scholarships. These scholarships provide a generous stipend of 65,000 INR per month for 2 to 3 months to study Mandarin in Taiwan. Students achieving Band A level certificates may also qualify for extended scholarships, lasting more than six months.
The successful administration of the TOCFL exam was made possible through the dedicated efforts of the Faculty of Liberal Art and the Office of International Affairs (OIA), at Shoolini University.
