48 UoN Students Flagged off to China for International Exchange
On Friday, September 5, 2025, representatives from Kenya and China gathered at the Confucius Institute, University of Nairobi, to mark the departure of 48 students traveling to China on scholarship. The event also celebrated the enduring friendship between the two nations and was graced by senior officials. Among the distinguished guests were H.E. Zhang Zhizhong, Deputy Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Kenya; Prof. Wang Shangxue, Director of the Confucius Institute; Carol Hunja, Secretary of University Education and Research in Kenya’s Ministry of Education; Prof. Jackson Maalu, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, representing the Vice-Chancellor Prof. Jesang Hutchinson; Prof. Francis Mula, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research, Innovation and Enterprise); Prof. Jackson Odhiambo, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences; and Mr. John Orindi, Director of Corporate Affairs and International Relations.
The ceremony opened with Kenyan students performing Chinese songs, after which Prof. Wang Shangxue welcomed the guests. She highlighted the remarkable growth of student exchanges, noting that in 2025 alone the Institute facilitated travel for 135 exchange students, 50 educators, 12 Chinese language teachers, and 48 scholarship students present making it the most successful year of collaboration so far. She expressed joy that what had once been a dream has now become a lived reality.
In his address, Deputy Ambassador Zhang Zhizhong reflected on his first visit to the Institute in 2018, likening its growth to “watching a baby grow, and growing well.” He described the occasion as another milestone in bilateral educational cooperation and told the students, most of whom are majoring in Chinese language: “When you come back two years from now, you will be the first batch to officially register as Chinese language teachers.”
Prof. Maalu, speaking on behalf of Vice-Chancellor Hutchinson, emphasized the strong partnership with Tianjin Normal University and celebrated the highest number of scholarships ever awarded in the university’s history. Carol Hunja commended the collaboration, noting that unlike many partnerships that remain only on paper, this one is a genuine success.
Other officials also offered their encouragement. Lilian Mwangi, on behalf of the CEO of the Teachers Service Commission, assured the students that they would be eligible for TSC registration upon their return, in line with professional requirements. Faith Ndambuki from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development urged the students to embrace the scholarship as “an invitation to grow, to be your best selves, and to gain the maximum from this opportunity,” reminding them to return and serve their country after their studies.
The student voices added a personal touch to the event. Leah Muthoni shared: “What began with simple curiosity has now become a defining part of my journey. We started not knowing a thing about the language, but today we can hold a simple conversation in Chinese, proving that language is truly a bridge that brings people together.” She further reflected that the 2+2 program is now “a reality” for her and her peers, describing the group as “one family” and thanking Prof. Wang and the lecturers who guided them.
The event concluded with the presentation of certificates and small gifts to the students. Following the formal proceedings, the group boarded a bus and was officially flagged off to the airport, marking the beginning of their academic journey in China.
