UCD Confucius Institute Successfully Held the Fourth “Leaving Cert Chinese Seminar”(2025)
On the afternoon of 13th December 2025, from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m., the Fourth “Leaving Cert Chinese Seminar” was successfully held in Lecture Theatre 004 at the UCD Confucius Institute (UCD CII).
The event was organized by the UCD Confucius Institute’s Leaving Cert Chinese teaching team. Ms. Yanling Wang, Director of the UCD Confucius Institute, Professor Zheng Shi, Chinese Director of the UCD Confucius Institute, and Professor Liming Wang, Director of the UCD Irish Institute of Chinese Studies (IICS) all attended the seminar. The seminar brought together teachers, outstanding alumni and current students from the UCD Confucius Institute’s Leaving Cert Chinese Class, as well as students from various secondary schools interested in sitting the Leaving Cert Chinese exams next year, with over 80 participants in total. The lively atmosphere provided an excellent platform for deep exchange and experience sharing between teachers and students.
The CII's director Ms. Yanling Wang delivered a warm welcome to students and parents, praising the dedication of the Leaving Cert Chinese teachers, acknowledging their contributions to students’ achievements over the past years, and encouraging students to continue striving for excellence in their future studies.
The IICS's director, Prof. Liming Wang also delivered a speech. On behalf of the institute, he introduced about Chinese studies as minor degree at UCD, highlighting the importance and unique value of learning Chinese. He analyzed current trends and opportunities in Chinese language learning and encouraged students to actively participate in the institute’s Chinese studies as minor degree programs at UCD to broaden their academic horizons and enhance their language skills.
The seminar specially invited five outstanding alumni from the UCD Confucius Institute’s Leaving Cert Chinese Class to share their experiences, including Brendan Pierse and Kieva Xie from University College Dublin, as well as Cillian Cusack, Fawn O'Neill Wang, and Julian Lewandowski from Trinity College Dublin. The alumni gave in-depth presentations on Leaving Cert Chinese exam preparation, the university application process, and their experiences of studying and living at university, providing practical advice and valuable insights based on their own experiences.
Building on these themes, the alumni each highlighted different aspects of their learning journeys and key takeaways. Brendan Pierse (UCD) emphasized the importance of consistent effort and long-term dedication, while Kieva Xie (UCD) suggested using resources such as Chinese movies to enhance language skills and cultural understanding. Cillian Cusack (Trinity College Dublin) encouraged students to maintain their interest and motivation, Fawn O'Neill Wang (Trinity College Dublin) shared practical exam tips and strategies, and Julian Lewandowski (Trinity College Dublin) reflected on the challenges and rewarding experiences of learning Chinese, providing students with valuable guidance and authentic references for their own studies.
The seminar concluded with an interactive Q&A session, during which students actively engaged with the alumni, gaining practical advice on language learning and exam strategies in a lively and well-organized atmosphere.
To mark the occasion, Prof. Zheng Shi, CII Chinese Director, presented commemorative gifts to the five alumni speakers and the two hosts in recognition of their contributions and as a gesture of gratitude and encouragement.
The seminar concluded in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Through alumni sharing, interactive Q&A guidance, and discussions on future studies and university applications, students gained valuable insights and a clearer direction for their Chinese learning and future planning. The event ended on a pleasant note with a relaxed food-tasting session, where participants exchanged study experiences while enjoying light refreshments.
As an annual flagship event of the UCD Confucius Institute, the Leaving Cert Chinese Seminar has become an important platform for student learning and exchange. It not only showcases the growth experiences of outstanding role models but also inspires confidence and motivation for students’ future studies and personal development.
