Opening ceremony of the education program

Zimbabwean delegation visited OUC on September 2, 2016, headed by Christopher Pandoti Mushowe,  Minister of Media, Information, and Broadcasting Services, who is also the Managing Director of the Presidential Scholarship. The welcome ceremony was held at the First Meeting Room of OUC Library by Ju Chuanjin, Secretary of CPC OUC Committee and Yu Zhigang, OUC President. They reviewed the past exchanges in education and culture between the two countries, and exchanged ideas on the common issues before looking into the future. Then both parties took part in the opening ceremony of the Commissioned Education Program of Zimbabwean students in China.

Meeting for exchanging ideas

Jointly funded by China Scholarship Council and Qingdao Hengshun Zhongsheng Group, the Commissioned Education Program of Zimbabwean Students to China supports 50 students from Zimbabwe to study the undergraduate courses in the majors of OUC College of Liberal Arts, Journalism and Communication, School of Economics, and Management College. It has been attached great importance by Zimbabwean President Mugabe, as well as China’s Ministry of Education and Qingdao Municipal Government. On August 26, President Mugabe gave a farewell ceremony specially for the 50 students to China. Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Huang Ping was present and made a speech at the ceremony.

Zimbabwean President Mugabe (First from Left) gives farewell 

ceremony for 50 students leaving for China at the President’s Office

President Yu made a speech in the opening ceremony of the Commissioned Education Program of Zimbabwean Students in China. He said that international exchange and cooperation is highly valued at OUC and internationalization is one of the three major strategies of OUC development. High on the agenda is the cooperation with the educational research institutions of the developing countries for learning from each other and making progress together.OUC has educated a total of 18,000 international students since 1950. The number of international students in 2015 was 1,200 from 69 countries.This education program is a key step for OUC to implement the All-Weather Friendly Ties between Two Countries by Helping, Protecting and Cooperating with Each Other, so as to make it a good platform for educational exchange and cooperation between China and Zimbabwe. 

Minister Mushowe expressed his gratitude on behalf of Zimbabwean Government to Chinese Government and enterprise for supporting the education of Zimbabwe. He said that this program supports and educates the students from poor families in Zimbabwe. It is a milestone for Ocean University of China to take the Commissioned Education Program of Zimbabwean Students in China. He is full of confidence about the growth of the students here and the development of Sino-Zimbabwean friendship. 

Participants of the meeting and Zimbabwean students

Translated by Liang Hong