Prof. YU Zhigang, President of the Ocean University of China (OUC), met with Prof. Lazarus Hangula, Vice Chancellor of the University of Namibia and their delegation to sign an agreement of collaboration at Huanghai Hotel on October 25, 2014.

The exchanges and cooperation between OUC and the University of Namibia, the third African university to establish a cooperative relationship with OUC, was of great significance, President Yu Zhigang said.

He hoped that the two parties could identify the priorities for cooperation within academic disciplines like oceanography, aquaculture, fishery resources, and ocean engineering. Yu Zhigang also hoped to find new ways to encourage and support faculty members from both universities to conduct scientific research together.
The Chinese Govt. grants scholarships to fund African students studying in China, and OUC is willing to admit students of University of Namibia to study marine and fishery science here, he added.

In addition, OUC also welcomes students of the University of Namibia who are interested in Chinese and Chinese culture to Shandong Province, the hometown of Confucius and Mencius.

Vice Chancellor Lazarus Hangula congratulated OUC on its 90th anniversary. He said that with some majors and disciplines being started relatively late, the University of Namibia wishes to learn more from OUC in terms of education and administration. “With the sound relationship between China and Africa, the two universities will have more chances for cooperation and communication,” he said.

Prof.Venue Ittekot, former director of the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Ecology (ZMT), introduced the University of Namibia to OUC. Prof. Li Huajun, Vice President of OUC, and representatives of international office from the University of Namibia and OUC were also present at the meeting.