Chinese Language Course Strengthens Cultural and Academic Exchange
The semester began on Monday (the 17th), in partnership with the Confucius Institute
On Monday (the 17th), IMPA Tech kicked off a new semester of Chinese I and III courses, offered in partnership with the Confucius Institute at PUC-Rio. The opening ceremony brought together undergraduate students in the Mathematics, Technology, and Innovation program and visiting students interested in learning the language.
The initiative helps expand educational and cultural cooperation between the institutions, with an emphasis on promoting the Chinese language and culture. For students, learning the language can also help broaden academic and professional opportunities, including exchange programs and closer ties with Chinese institutions.
The event also marked the presentation of certificates to the class of 2026.1, which celebrated what they had learned over the past semester. “Little by little, we’re starting to see that the language makes sense. We learn the characters, make progress, and start connecting the dots. It’s a bit like math. The more you practice, the more you understand and grasp it,” said student Ingrid Carvalho.
Gabriel Falcão, meanwhile, highlighted the faculty, which consists of native Chinese teachers. “Learning Chinese was a very interesting experience. It’s a very different culture, and a language that requires a lot of practice. The teachers are very good, and it’s a very valuable opportunity, thanks to the partnership between the institutions,” he said.
The initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen educational ties between IMPA Tech and institutions in China. Earlier this semester, the undergraduate program welcomed six students from the School of Mathematical Sciences at Beihang University in Beijing, who are participating in the institute’s International Mobility Program.
Culture Beyond the Classroom
This engagement with Chinese culture also came to life on the city’s streets. On Saturday (the 15th), Chinese undergraduate students and exchange students took part in a visit to the exhibition “Flavors of Tradition: The History of Food in Ancient China” at the National Historical Museum (MHN) in downtown Rio de Janeiro.
The exhibition is part of the Brazil-China Cultural Year 2026 program and invites visitors to reflect on Chinese civilization through one of its most fundamental expressions: food. The exhibition features approximately 120 objects from the National Museum of China in Beijing, including ceramics, bronze, and porcelain pieces spanning some 10,000 years of history.
For student Mariana Yoshioka, an IMPA Tech undergraduate and participant in the Chinese language course, the visit was an opportunity to put her knowledge into practice. “The explanations were given in English, Portuguese, and Mandarin, so it was really cool to see and recognize Chinese characters,” she said.
According to the young woman, the exchange students’ presence added even more value to the exhibition. “It was a great opportunity for us to bond. Since they live in that culture, they told us a little about the history and their personal preferences regarding Chinese cuisine,” she said.
The aim is to present food as an expression of social life, cultural transformations, and forms of human interaction, introducing visitors to different aspects of Chinese history and culture. The visit was organized by IMPA Tech’s Psychopedagogical Support Center (NAP).
Undergraduate students are heading to China at the end of the month
Academic cooperation between IMPA Tech and Chinese institutions will enter a new phase in late August. On the 28th, 12 undergraduate students will travel to China to study for one academic semester. Six students will be hosted by Beihang University and the other six by Peking University.
During their time abroad, undergraduate students will take courses and participate in research activities. The participants are students majoring in Mathematics; Artificial Intelligence and Data Science; and Computer Science, with a distribution aligned with the academic profile of the Chinese institutions.
The program expands the international training opportunities offered by IMPA Tech and strengthens academic ties with Chinese universities, creating new opportunities for exchange, scientific collaboration, and cultural engagement among students and institutions in both countries.
