The Foreign Service Institute (FSI) concluded the online Mandarin Beginner Level, sponsored by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in the Philippines (TECO) in Manila. The Course was launched by FSI to provide training for the personnel of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) assigned in the Home Office, Consular Offices, and Foreign Service Posts. The Course was synchronous and held via Google Meet.

Twenty-five (25) participants completed the online Course conducted from 09 August to 29 October 2021. It was held twice a week, with a two-hour-meeting per session for a total of 48 training hours. Of the 25 participants, two (2) were from the DFA Home Office and 23 from Foreign Service Posts where Mandarin is the primary spoken language.

FSI partnered with the Taiwan Education Center (TEC) as the service provider to run the course, with the National Sun Yat-sen University providing the Mandarin language instructor.

A virtual closing ceremony was held on 27 October 2021, which was attended by Ambassador Michael Hsu of TECO-Manila, Dr. Kuo, Chih-Wen, Vice President of National Sun Yat-sen University, Ms. Wang, Wei-Hsu, Instructor, TEC, FSI personnel, and the Course participants.

FSI Director-General Jose Maria A. Cariño, in his remarks, congratulated the participants for their interest and dedication in learning the Mandarin Language. Director-General Cariño also extended his appreciation to Ambassador Michael Hsu for his support to FSI and to TECO, TEC, and National Sun Yat-sen University for partnering with FSI in the conduct of the online Mandarin Beginner Level.