Mike Lynch, programme director of the postgraduate diploma in secondary Education at Moray House, speaking at the Scotland China Education Network Conference in Edinburgh last week, said all the course was waiting for was accreditation.

With Intermediate levels I and II Chinese being introduced in 2009 and the Higher and Advanced Higher the following year, it became imperative to ensure there were enough teachers to deliver the subject.

Various options have been discussed, such as a concurrent degree alongside teacher training or the masters route.

However, Mr Lynch added: “The two routes that seemed the most logical, and would deliver qualified teachers most quickly, were through professional qualifications and the PGDE which already exists.”

Moray House is awaiting final approval of the course from the General Teaching Council for Scotland and hopes to be able to advertise it within weeks.

“We are quite confident there won’t be any hurdles or obstacles, because we have been quite rigorous and everyone is very keen to see Chinese working,”

said Mr Lynch.

“European languages have been traditional in our schoools, but we are also paving the way for other languages. Chinese is a good example and a good model for other languages.”