STORY: Croatian sinologist hails University of Zagreb move to confer degrees in sinology
SHOOTING TIME: April 10, 2024
DATELINE: April 11, 2024
LENGTH: 00:01:02
LOCATION: Zagreb
CATEGORY: CULTURE/EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of street views in Zagreb
2. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZVONIMIR STOPIC, Croatian sinologist
3. various of street views in Zagreb
4. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZVONIMIR STOPIC, Croatian sinologist

STORYLINE:

Zvonimir Stopic, a Croatian sinologist, has hailed the move by the University of Zagreb to elevate the minor in sinology to a major to become the first institution of higher education in Croatia to confer degrees in sinology.

The university made the decision in late March.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): ZVONIMIR STOPIC, Croatian sinologist
"The development of Croatia's sinology is at a crucial point. There is a good opportunity for a sinology department in Croatia to become one of the better in the regions, because we have enough people, we have enough knowledge, we have enough very specific knowledge on China. And for that, this is not only a matter of attracting students to come to study in a sinology department, but also creating opportunities for them to have a job after."

Over the past two decades since the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences began to introduce a minor in sinology in 2004, Chinese courses in linguistics, Chinese history, art, literature and philosophy have been offered, attracting 30-40 students each year on average.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): ZVONIMIR STOPIC, Croatian sinologist
"We need to have more people who have more contacts with China, so we can grow this, if we want, the win-win and mutual cooperation thing."

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Zagreb.
(XHTV)