On the morning of June 15, Prof. Federico Roberto Antonelli, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Italy in China, Mr. Mario Izzi, Cultural Attaché, and Ms. Wang Leilei paid a visit to the College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University. Yan Guodong, Dean of the College, Wang Kai, Vice Dean of the College, Yang Lin, Director of the Italian Department, Shi Dou, Letizia Vallini, Paolo Rendina, and Associate Professor Andrea Sartori from the Italian Department attended the meeting.
Yan Guodong expressed his warm welcome to Prof. Antonelli and his delegation. He pointed out that the Italian major in the College of Foreign Languages of Nankai University was established in 2017, the Italian Department was set up in 2019, and it was selected as a national first-class undergraduate major construction site in 2022. The great progress made in the Italian major in such a short time is inseparable from the support and help of the Italian Cultural Institute of the Embassy of Italy in China and other cultural counselors. Tianjin and Italy have close economic and cultural cooperation, and Nankai University has cooperated with Italy for many years. Building a better Italian language major is conducive to local economic development and Sino-Italian cultural exchanges.
Prof. Antonelli approved the development of the Italian major of the College as well as its importance. He said that he would continue to support the talent training, academic exchanges, and discipline construction of the Italian Department, hoping to have the opportunity to bring Italian music and art to the campus of Nankai University, so that more Chinese young people can get to know Italian culture.
The College also invited Mario Izzi, Cultural Attaché, to participate in a symposium with teachers and students of the Italian Department. Mr. Izzi was once an Italian teacher at the College. He interacted cordially with the students and answered questions about Italian language teaching and the activities of the Italian Cultural Institute.
