University of Nairobi signs student deal with Chinese education agency

The University of Nairobi (UoN) has entered into a strategic partnership with China's Xingfei Zhiyuan International Culture and Education Centre with the aim of enhancing student mobility, cultural exchange and job opportunities for both Kenyan and Chinese students.

UoN Corporate Affairs Director John Orindi said the agreement was reached following a successful meeting with CEO of the Chinese institution Johana Chen while the latter was on a trip to the Kenyan capital.

"The University of Nairobi has committed to collaborate with Xingfei Zhiyuan in order to facilitate student exchange mobility, recruitment for internships as well as work placement, among other aspects," Orindi said in a statement.

The two bodies agreed that the platform will promote cultural exchanges as well as academic exchanges involving students from China and Kenya.

The move is timely given that Kenyan universities are currently pursuing international partnerships as a way of improving graduate employability and getting students familiarized with international best practices, as well as improving institutional capacity via knowledge transfer.

Xingfei Zhiyuan International Culture and Education Center, which is headquartered in Changsha, China, has operations in Kenya and offers a range of services, from study visits, vocational training, industry internships to international trade fairs along with trade counseling with an emphasis on the exposure of students to international study and job opportunities.

The partnership is part of UoN's plan to internationalize its academic program offerings and expand international academic partnerships that provide practical, cross-cultural experiences for its students.

Through the collaboration, UoN aims to benefit from China's rich vocational training and industry networks, particularly networks related to emerging industries and technology.

The agreement also draws on Kenya's rising educational and diplomatic exchanges with China, with more Kenyan students studying in Chinese universities and more Chinese students studying in Kenyan institutions.

China has also made a contribution to the education sector in Kenya through the granting of scholarships, Chinese language teaching via Confucius Institutes and partnerships in building capacity in science and engineering studies and technical training.

victor@chinadailyafrica.com