UoN's Confucius Institute Strengthens Sino-Kenyan Education Ties in China
A delegation from the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, along with 15 Kenyan educators, including representatives from the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD), recently visited China with the aim of strengthening educational and cultural ties between Kenya and China. The visit, which took place from August 15-21, 2024, was intended to engage in discussions on the development of Chinese language education, explore collaborative opportunities, and gain insights into best practices for teaching and curriculum development.
In a meeting held on August 16, 2024, at the Center for Language Education and Cooperation of the Ministry of Education in China, Mr. Hu Zhiping, Deputy Director-General of the Center, committed to providing long-term support for the training of Kenyan Chinese language teachers, the development of teaching materials, and the implementation of distance learning courses once the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and relevant agreements are signed. The bilateral agreement is expected to be signed during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September or at the 2024 Chinese Language Conference in November. Additionally, it is hoped that the Center will deploy native Chinese teachers to support the implementation of the Chinese language pilot project to fast-track the integration of the Chinese language into Kenya's national education system. Mr. Zhiping applauded the Confucius Institute for catalyzing development in Africa, stating, “The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi in Kenya has become a global model.” The Confucius Institute has created a large pool of Chinese experts who have contributed to enhancing China-Kenya relations.
Prof. Julius Ogeng'o, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Emeritus, highlighted the achievements of the joint Chinese language program pioneered in 2023, which has successfully implemented the 2+2 program under the tripartite agreement between the University of Nairobi and Tianjin Normal University. Under this program, students pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Education with Chinese as an option at the University of Nairobi will have the opportunity to study at Tianjin Normal University during their third and fourth years. The first batch of students is set to join TNU in 2025. In preparation, the delegation visited TNU to familiarize themselves with TNU’s facilities for international students. The President of the International Society for Chinese Language Teaching and Dean of the Institute for the Development of International Chinese Language Teacher Education (IDCLE) at TNU, Prof. Zhong Yinghua, emphasized the contribution of the Confucius Institute to the teaching of Chinese in Kenya. “The process has been consultative and has involved knowledge sharing between the two institutions,” he reiterated.
The University of Nairobi also hopes to collaborate with Tianjin Normal University in the preparation of localized teaching materials, the development of online resources, and the establishment and implementation of Chinese-language pilot schools.
The delegation also paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of the Republic of Kenya in Beijing, China, where Ambassador H.E. Willy Bett, EGH, Deputy Ambassador H.E. Lynnette Mwende Ndile, Education Attache Mr. Albert Ombiro, and other diplomats received the delegation. In addition, the delegation had the opportunity to experience Chinese culture and visit historical sites in both Beijing and Tianjin, where they learned about China’s cultural and historical development.
