On the afternoon of December 18th, 2020 local time in Kenya, the launching ceremony of the Model Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi was grandly held on the main campus of the University of Nairobi. On the occasion of the 15th anniversary since the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, it was once again awarded the title of "Model Confucius Institute".
Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Vice President and Secretary-General of Chinese International Education Foundation, Mr. Zhao Xiyuan, Minister Counsellor, Chinese Embassy in Kenya, Mrs. Zhang Ling, Chair of University Council, Tianjin Normal University, Prof. Zhong Yinghua, President of Tianjin Normal University, Prof. Stephen G. Kiama, Vice Chancellor University of Nairobi, Prof. Horace Ochanda, deputy vice Chancellor Research, Innovation and Enterprise, Prof. Enos Njeru, deputy vice chancellor Human Resource and Administration, Prof. Margaret Jesang Hutchinson, deputy vice Chancellor Finance, Planning and Development , Prof. Ephraim Wahome, Dean Faculty of Arts, Prof. Jane Oduor, chairperson department of Linguistics and Languages, amongst other guests attended the unveiling ceremony. The Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Education, Prof. George A.O. Magoha sent a congratulatory video.
Hilda Juma, an outstanding undergraduate student of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, dressed in costumes, welcomed the guests with a song My Country and I.
In his speech, Minister Counselor Zhao Xiyuan of the Chinese Embassy in Kenya congratulated the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi on being awarded the "Model Confucius Institute" again. Awarding the title of "Model Confucius Institute" is the greatest affirmation of the work of CIUON. He sincerely hoped that the CIUON will continue to promote and develop the Chinese language teaching in Kenya, make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and continue to contribute towards cultural exchanges between China and Kenya.
Mr. Zhao Lingshan, Vice President and Secretary-General of Chinese International Education Foundation, said in his speech that CIUON has made outstanding achievements in the training of Chinese language teachers and Chinese language teaching research. It has cultivated practical talents and contributed to the friendship between China and Kenya. The Foundation will work with the University of Nairobi and Tianjin Normal University to fully support the development of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi. It is hoped that the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi can further play its role of demonstration and leadership from a new starting point, develop around localization and specialization, and become a demonstration center for Chinese language teaching in Kenya and Africa, a training center for Chinese talents and teachers, and a Chinese language teaching resource. The development center of China, the research and information center of China issues, and the innovation center of collaborative development.
Prof. Zhong Yinghua, President of Tianjin Normal University, said in his speech that since the inauguration of the first Confucius Institute in Africa in 2005, the two universities have sincerely cooperated, adhering to the concept of "friendship, cooperation, development, and win-win", and insisting on "joint consultation Co-construction and sharing", carrying out multi-level international Chinese education projects. In May of this year, the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi was successfully handed over the new building, marking a new step in the construction of CIUON. In July, with the strong support of the Chinese International Education Foundation, the two universities negotiated closely, took the lead in completing the transfer work, and signed a new Confucius Institute construction agreement. “In the future, we will strive to build CIUON into a "cultural post" on the "Belt and Road"”, he remarked.
Mrs. Zhang Ling, Chair of University Council, Tianjin Normal University, said in her speech that she congratulated CIUION for being awarded the "Model Confucius Institute" again. She noted “It is pointed out that the CIUON has made outstanding achievements in the training of local Chinese teachers, the training of professionals who are proficient in Chinese and Chinese and African cultures, and the transportation of talents for major projects of the “Belt and Road” initiative in China and Africa. Facing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, colleagues from Tianjin Normal University and the University of Nairobi worked together to help each other, innovatively set up a one-month remote online boutique training course for local Chinese teachers in Kenya and awarded outstanding students the "Excellent Academic Award".
Prof. Stephen G. Kiama, Vice Chancellor University of Nairobi and the local Director of CIUON, said in his speech “today triple good things happened. The first is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the founding of the University of Nairobi. The second is the 15th anniversary of the establishment of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi. In the past 15 years, CIUON has made extraordinary achievements in the field of international Chinese education. Today, with the support of the Chinese International Education Foundation and two universities, the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi has won the honor of "Model Confucius Institute", which is a high level of trust in the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi. I hope the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi will continue its efforts to promote educational and cultural exchanges between Kenya and China and deepen the friendship between the two countries.”
The Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Education said in his congratulatory video that he warmly congratulated the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi on its 15th anniversary since establishment and for winning the honorary title of "Model Confucius Institute". Since its establishment 15 years ago, CIUON has been developing vigorously, making outstanding contributions to the Chinese language education in Kenya, promoting cultural exchanges and deepening the friendship between the two countries. May 2020 witnessed the handover of the new building of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, which symbolizes the friendship between China and Kenya. This milestone infrastructure will provide Kenyan students with a better learning environment. I wish the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi better and better.”
The Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi is the first Confucius Institute in Africa. Since its establishment, it has been determined to forge ahead, innovate, and develop steadily. Won the title of "Confucius Institute of the year" for 7 times consecutively and won the " Pioneer Confucius Institute" in 2014. In 2009, a Chinese undergraduate program was established, and in 2013, it started to jointly cultivate a master's degree in international education in Chinese with Tianjin Normal University.
Model Confucius Institutes are an important "flagship" leading the development of Confucius Institutes worldwide and will play a leading role in the development of more Confucius Institutes. In future, the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi will comply with environmental needs, update and develop high-quality educational concepts, highlight school-running characteristics, and make new and greater contributions to promoting the friendship between the Chinese and African people, mutual learning of civilizations, exchanges and cooperation.
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