The Motivation, Challenges, and Solutions for the Cultivation of

Against the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of a global community of health for all, the cultivation of ‘Chinese Language + Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)’ talents among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) serves as an important vehicle for the international dissemination of TCM and regional educational cooperation. This study adopts mixed research methods to systematically explore the train of logic behind and possible pathways for its coming into practice. The study finds that the emergence of such a model was driven by three factors: policy impetus, demand pull, and foundation support. An analysis of the current status of ‘Chinese Language + TCM’ education in ASEAN reveals that it has achieved the followings: Talent cultivation in a massive scale, further localization, combination of ‘dual academic qualifications + professional certification’, institutional diversification, and official recognition of TCM through legislation in some countries. However, it still faces many challenges, including misalignment of the programmes being offered and the local needs, shortage of teachers of ‘dual-competency’ (i.e., proficient in both Chinese teaching and TCM expertise), outdated teaching resources, incomplete insufficient standardization of the education system, and low exposure of TCM among non-Chinese groups. As a countermeasure, this study proposes a four-tiered collaborative development model of ‘demand-support-synergy-guarantee’. By calibrating teaching needs, strengthening the concerted efforts of faculty, resources and standards, synergizing multiple stakeholders, and implementing dynamic policy monitoring, it offers new ideas when promoting a higher-quality development of ‘Chinese Language + TCM’ education in ASEAN.

Keywords

ASEAN, Chinese Language + TCM, Educational model, Talent Cultivation, the Belt and Road Initiative, International Chinese Language Education

source

International Journal of Chinese Language Education; Dec 2025; Issue No. 18; p.213-242

Language

Chinese