From October 12th to 19th, President Fang Jie led a delegation on visits to Kenya and Egypt, where they held discussions with partner universities and institutions on topics including the co-establishment of Confucius Institutes, faculty and student exchanges, joint research, and the integration of industry and education, resulting in the signing of multiple Memoranda of Understanding.
On October 13th, Fang Jie and her delegation visited Masai Mara University. Fang Jie expressed gratitude for the university's support in co-establishing the Masai Mara University Confucius Institute and shared updates on the application process. She expressed hope that, under the guidance of the Chinese International Language Education Foundation, both institutions would supplement the application materials and formulate practical and effective construction management measures to jointly advance this initiative. Masai Mara University President Prof. Aloo Obudho extended a warm welcome to Fang Jie and her delegation. He emphasized the university's full commitment to supporting the co-established Confucius Institute and looked forward to initiating cooperative exchanges between the two universities, including faculty and student visits and joint research projects. Both sides also engaged in in-depth discussions regarding the implementation plan for the Confucius Institute and co-hosting international conferences. The delegation toured the campus, including the joint Masai Mara University - Wuhan Botanical Garden Medicinal Plant Garden and the proposed office and teaching spaces for the Confucius Institute.
On October 14th, the delegation visited Murang'a University of Technology. President Prof. Dickson noted that Murang'a is a public university focusing on science and engineering while pursuing comprehensive development. He expressed hope for future collaboration between the two institutions in areas such as Artificial Intelligence, Logistics Management, Tourism and Hospitality Management, and Confucius Institute classes. Fang Jie introduced our university's basic profile and expressed hope for in-depth exchanges in faculty-student visits and mutual research learning. The two universities signed an inter-school MoU. The delegation also visited the University of Nairobi Confucius Institute, a Global Model Confucius Institute. Through observing Chinese language classes, visiting the library and club activity rooms, watching highlight videos of events, and interviewing Confucius Institute teachers and volunteers, they gained comprehensive insights into the operational experience of a Confucius Institute.
On October 15th, the delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in Kenya. Minister-Counselor Zhang Zhizhong of the Embassy met with Fang Jie and her delegation. Fang Jie briefed on the progress of co-establishing the Confucius Institute with Masai Mara University and the measures our university is vigorously promoting regarding International Chinese Language Education. She stated that the university would further consolidate the foundation of International Chinese Language Education, deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation with Kenya, and requested guidance and support from the Embassy for our university's efforts to expand Belt and Road educational resources. Zhang Zhizhong warmly welcomed the delegation and provided a comprehensive overview of China-Kenya educational developments and cooperation across various fields. He fully affirmed the work done by our university in preparing to establish a Confucius Institute in Kenya and offered suggestions. He hoped the university would further leverage its strengths to deepen China-Kenya cooperation and promote in-depth development of educational collaboration between the two countries. While in Kenya, the delegation also visited the local Chinese-invested enterprise XCMG Group to discuss university-enterprise cooperation in economy, trade, logistics, and other aspects. Fang Jie presented an appointment letter as an Industry Mentor of our university to Zhang Yuanxiang, Head of XCMG Group. Fang Jie also met with Wang Jiale, an alumnus from the Class of 2020 of the School of Business Administration, and the Director of the Academic Affairs Office presented him with an Honorary Class Teacher certificate for the 2025 intake of our university.
On October 16th, the delegation visited the Sadat Academy for Management Sciences in Cairo, Egypt, where they were warmly received by President Prof. Mohamed Hassan Abdel Azim. Both sides fully discussed short-term faculty and student exchanges and establishing a dual-degree MBA program, reaching preliminary cooperation intentions.
On October 17th, the delegation proceeded to Badr University in Cairo for inter-university exchanges. University President Prof. Ashraf Shihy and Fang Jie signed an inter-school MoU, reaching cooperation intentions in academic exchanges, talent cultivation, joint research, and other fields.
On October 18th, the delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in Egypt. Counselor Lu Chunsheng of the Embassy met with Fang Jie and her delegation. Lu Chunsheng detailed the cooperation and exchanges between China and Egypt in economic and social development, tourism and culture, and higher education. He expressed hope that our university would further deepen exchanges and cooperation with Egyptian universities, exploring international cooperation models with distinctive characteristics of our university. Fang Jie introduced the basic situation of our university, stating that she would take this visit as an opportunity to promote the establishment of friendly relations with Egyptian schools and explore cooperation in areas such as short-term faculty and student exchanges, International Chinese Language Education online courses, and 2+2 or 3+1 dual-degree programs. While in Cairo, the delegation also visited the Egypt China Education and Culture Communication Center, holding cordial talks with its director. They expressed expectations for cooperation in recruiting international students for China and inviting Egyptian youth to our university for cultural exchange and study programs.
Representatives from the Academic Affairs Office, the School of Tourism and Hospitality Management, and the Frostburg Institute of Carbon Economy and Data Science at Hubei University of Economics accompanied the visit.
This visit implemented the International Chinese Language Education Going Global Strategy, one of the ten major projects under the 2025 New Economics and Finance reform. The visits to Kenya and Egypt aimed to understand the conditions of African universities, their disciplinary strengths, Confucius Institute establishment experience, and the market demands of Chinese-invested enterprises. Signing multiple cooperation agreements expanded our partners and strategic resources in Africa, promoting cooperation in China-Africa cultural exchanges, joint talent cultivation, and youth innovation and entrepreneurship. This actively built a platform and laid a solid foundation for our university to pragmatically advance China-Africa cooperation.