Nine students from the University of Nairobi (UoN) are set to travel to China for a six-month program to study the Chinese language at Tianjin Normal University.
These students, who come from various academic disciplines, received scholarships aimed at promoting Chinese language education in Kenya through the Confucius Institute.
The UoN announced that the initiative, which started in 2023, seeks to incorporate Chinese language teaching into Kenya’s national education framework and strengthen educational ties between the two nations.
The current group of Chinese language learners was officially recognized by Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs, Professor Ayub Gitau.
He expressed gratitude to the Director of the Confucius Institute, Professor Wang Shangxue, and the students for their collaborative efforts in securing the scholarships.
Positive Experience
“You will serve as ambassadors for the University of Nairobi. Embrace and immerse yourselves in the rich culture of China, and share the culture of the University of Nairobi with them. Gain insights into their innovative approach to International Chinese Language Education in the context of digital and intelligent transformation,” said Prof. Gitau.
He noted that the integration of digital intelligence in Chinese language instruction at UoN and the Confucius Institute illustrates how digital technologies are reshaping language education.
Professor Shangxue mentioned that there are plans to offer 25 scholarships this year to UoN students through the ‘2+2 Programme,’ which entails two years of study at the Kenyan university followed by two years in China.
One of the scholarship recipients, Joy Waswa, shared that her experience in the Chinese language program has been rewarding, as she achieved a mean grade of ‘A’ with 300 points, qualifying her for a full scholarship.
Her fellow student, Catherine Njuguna, has a different background; she recently graduated from high school and was unemployed for a period before successfully applying for the scholarship.
John Orindi, UoN’s Director of Corporate Affairs and International Affairs, emphasized the importance for students to align their aspirations with emerging global opportunities in the changing global landscape.
Additionally, UoN has collaborated with the Sikh Council of Africa to introduce the study of Sikh Dharam religion in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, specifically within the Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
