Starting in September 2025, MAI students studying in the fields of Linguistics and Advertising and Public Relations will begin learning Chinese. It will become part of the main educational program. According to the university's press service, previously Chinese was taught in the format of elective courses with native speakers. In recent years, about 200 students have completed the courses. The growing interest in the discipline and the expansion of cooperation with China became the basis for the transition to a new level of education.
According to Irina Anikeeva, Director of the MAI Institute of Foreign Languages, the introduction of the Chinese language is a promising step. The new discipline will open up additional career opportunities for students, especially in areas such as aviation, international communications, and marketing. The program will include grammar, phonetics, spoken and written language, as well as elements of Chinese culture. Special emphasis will be placed on the development of hearing and accurate transmission of intonation, one of the most important aspects of the Chinese language. Multimedia platforms and specialized techniques are used in the educational process.
At the same time, the institute operates a pilot project created jointly with Shanghai Pedagogical University. Russian and Chinese students work in international online groups, developing intercultural communication skills. As a result of the program, they defend joint projects with the possible prospect of their further implementation. Starting from the new academic year, this module will be integrated into the main educational program with the support of partner universities from China. MAI is actively developing academic cooperation with Chinese universities, including Beihang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University and others.
