The Tribune

A Securities Commission of the Bahamas (SCB) employee is taking a six-month Mandarin course in China.

Nicholette Shepherd, an analyst in the market surveillance department, has received a six-month scholarship from the Confucius Institute at the College of the Bahamas (COB).

Ms Shepherd said she recognises the potential benefits this opportunity can bring, not only to the Securities Commission but to the industry as a whole.

“I am excited to take advantage of this wonderful opportunity to immerse myself, not only in the language, but the rich culture of China” said Ms Shepherd.

“The exposure that this opportunity represents enriches the human capital of the Securities Commission, and is a small, though important, step toward greater multi-lingual capacity in our financial services sector.”

Prior to this opportunity, Ms Shepherd enrolled in a beginning Mandarin language course at the Confucius Institute of the College of the Bahamas.

The Confucius Institute was officially launched on Wednesday, October 17, 2012. The Institute succeeds the former Confucius Classroom started in 2009 through the collaboration of the College and the Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST).

At the launch of the Institute, it was noted that about 100 students have studied Mandarin at the Institute, and about 16 have been granted scholarships to study in China since 2010.

Ms Shepherd began her studies on Tuesday, and is set to return in early August, 2013.