Irish student is loving learning Mandarin, Economics and much more

Irish student Matthew Kelly explains why he is delighted with his daily life and his studies at Peking University. He talks to Jo Kerrigan

Matthew Kelly says: "I had always been interested in Asia from a young age in terms of culture/film/ TV etc. I suppose I always knew studying Mandarin would give me more opportunities in terms of work and study. And so it proved to be."

Matthew Kelly is on the verge of completing a two-year Masters programme at Peking University's Yenching Academy and looks back on his time there as enormously fulfilling and exciting, as well as challenging. 

His major is Economics and Management, and he has just undergone his thesis defence (or viva) where he specialised in Sino-Irish economic relations. Passing that, with much relief, he is now due to graduate next month.

How did all this start? 

“Well, my undergrad was in Commerce International with Mandarin at UCD, where I studied Chinese at the Confucius Institute. I think really I had always been interested in Asia from a young age in terms of culture/film/ TV etc. My time at the Confucius Institute really sparked my interest in China, and I suppose I always knew studying Mandarin would give me more opportunities in terms of work and study. And so it proved to be!

“For the Master's at the Yenching Academy, I was recommended through an internal process at UCD, and then interviewed by Peking University before entering the programme in September 2022. I was in fact the first Irish student to return to China on a student visa after Covid-19, during which student visas had been suspended for three years. So I was fortunate in that timing.”

 Since arriving in China in Sept 2022, Matthew has had the opportunity to travel all around the country and see its huge diversity.

 “I spent the Spring Festival (at -15 deg!) in the Northeast, and also took part in the recent Hainan International Goods Expo in China's tropical Hainan, where Ireland was country of honour this year. At the end of May this year, I completed a six-month traineeship at the EU Delegation to China, where I learned a lot about EU-China relations more broadly, and got to take part in a lot of interesting events.” 

Despite the distance between Ireland and China, he thinks we have so many things in common both historically and culturally.

 “I play flute and a bit of Irish trad flute myself, and I'm always interested by the unique ways in which our cultures overlap in music/ history/ culture etc.” 

What has the study, and the level of attention required been like? 

“Overall, the past two years have been amazing. At Peking University I have access to some of China's leading academics and my classmates from China are among the top 1% of Chinese university students. I have taken part in so many different research projects and field trips, for example travelling to Fujian to take part in the Bond with Kuliang: 2023 China-U.S. People-to-People Friendship Forum, where I got the chance to learn about the importance of people-to-people dialogue and provincial level exchanges between Chinese and foreign local-level governments.

“During that trip I also got the chance to meet the Governor of Fujian Province, a high-ranking official in China, and a role which was once held by Xi Jinping earlier in his career. Such access to high-level events and Chinese officials is a real benefit of studying at Peking University and I'm always surprised by the level of importance and respect given to international students in China. 

"I really have been endlessly impressed by and thankful for the opportunities given to me by the programme, and the chance to learn in such a high quality environment, all under full-scholarship. There are many similar scholarship programs available for Irish students interested in coming to China to study, and I think this is one area where China really stands out as a study destination among other countries.”

So how did it differ from an Irish university?  

“Studying in China is certainly different from studying back home or in Europe. I find the student experience is very different in China, where students spend most or all of their time on academic work and do not engage as much in social activities or take time out of their study to rest.”

 In many ways, admits Matthew, he was inspired by this ethic to work harder on his own studies. 

“However, myself and other international students also regularly encouraged Chinese classmates to take a break and go for a few drinks on the weekends! It was most often in such personal exchanges with Chinese classmates that I learned the most about China, the attitudes of young people, their challenges and aspirations for their future and the future of their country. 

"While making friends can be perhaps harder for students who are in China for the first time and don't have a high level of Mandarin, I have always been so accepted by my Chinese classmates and encouraged by my interactions with them, and I would really encourage any young Irish student interested in studying in China to break out of the "international bubble" and really get to know their Chinese classmates during their study in China.

“While you have to get used to being the only Irish person in the room, this gives you the opportunity to share some Irish culture and viewpoints with classmates, and this cultural exchange is I think the most enriching part of studying in China. While it can be scary to come to such a big country, far away from home with a totally different language, cultural, government, economic etc. system, you quickly learn that we're all human, and while we may have many differences and cultural barriers, we have so much in common in our human experience, in our shared challenges and shared hopes for the future.” 

Were there times when he missed home, the familiarities of Irish life? 

“I have to say I have been so busy over the past two years, I have not had much time to miss home too much! My study of economics, Chinese language, taking part in so many research trips and events across China, as well as interning at the EU Delegation earlier this year, has made the time fly by. Opportunities for young students with fluency in Mandarin are really endless in China, and a decision to study Chinese, which for me started out of curiosity, has opened so many doors for me, completely changed my path in life, and I'm so grateful for all the opportunities and friendships made along the way.” 

While the majority of his friends from Ireland are also studying/working abroad, mostly in Europe/ U.S or Australia, Matthew would really encourage more Irish students to consider China as a study abroad location.

 “China is such a diverse and interesting place to study and work, whether it be the skyscrapers of Shanghai, the beaches of Hainan or the plains of Inner Mongolia, I really think there's something for everyone and so much to be gained from spending time living in China.” 

So, given that you are graduating in July, Matthew, where do you intend going from here?

 “Well, I’m currently still deciding on what is next actually. I've had a few offers from Chinese companies, but I think I'm most interested now in pursuing a career in diplomacy, and back in the public sector, so still waiting on opportunities on that end. The goal would be to get sent back to China/Asia in a public sector role, as I think that's where my interest and skills are best suited.”