The Chinese government has partnered with Egerton University in Nakuru in a deal that will see many university students access scholarship opportunities in China and community members benefit from agricultural trainings and research.
The university vice chancellor, Prof James Tuitoek, said the Njoro-based institution has benefited tremendously from the Chinese-Kenyan partnership with 10 students from Egerton touring China on a study tour last month, courtesy of the Egerton-Confucius partnership while 15 more are set to go for the same in January next year.
The VC said that through Confucius Institute, which was set up at the main campus in Njoro last year, many students have been able to learn the Chinese language and culture and stand to benefit from job opportunities in China through the partnership.
“The institute has carried out 20 trainings for more than 700 agricultural technicians who together with the institute are running a 25-acre agro-science park that will help improve the agricultural activities of farmers in the region,” said the director of Confucius Institute, Prof Li Yuan.
The director said the Egerton-Confucius partnership was a symbol of the China-Kenya collaboration which he said is set to grow more to ensure citizens from both countries benefit from the initiative.
The VC and the director were speaking over the weekend at Egerton University during a ceremony to mark the institute’s 10th anniversary.