The mission of the University of Hawaiʻi Chinese Flagship Program is to provide a well-rounded educational experience to our students — in their pursuit of a commanding level of proficiency in Mandarin Chinese — as they establish their place among the next generation of global professionals. This program is made possible by our sponsor, The Language Flagship. Our sponsor's vision is to expand the national pool of U.S. citizens proficient in Chinese by providing intensive language training to highly motivated and promising university students. Through the Chinese Language Flagship Center at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, students are offered the unprecedented opportunity to integrate high levels of proficiency in Chinese with their major of choice in any field so that after they graduate they will be able to perform their job duties in English and in Chinese without linguistic or cultural barriers. The cornerstone of the Flagship academic experience is a Capstone Year, which includes specialized study either abroad or domestically.
The Language Flagship represents a nationwide effort to revolutionize the way Americans learn foreign languages. Started in 2002, the program offers a new way for students to reach professional levels of proficiency in languages that are less commonly taught in the United States. Mandarin Chinese was identified as one of the seven such languages chosen by The Language Flagship organization based in Washington, D.C. — resulting in the establishment of thirteen programs in Chinese across the country. Meanwhile, Flagship Overseas Centers provide opportunities for students to hone their language skills while enrolled in content courses and participating in a professional internship — conducted entirely in Chinese. In addition to receiving an undergraduate degree in Chinese Flagship, graduates of this unique, federally funded degree program can continue to obtain certification in professional proficiency in Chinese from The Language Flagship program.
