A relationship where learning is key

Educational ties between China and Africa have enriched both over the past 64 years

The number of African students studying in China has surged in recent years. Most are undergraduates, and the number of students who pursue a master's or PhD degree is growing. These students have brought a different message to China, and the Chinese have begun to see from them a fresh new image of Africa. This is inseparable from the progress in China-Africa cooperation in education.

In the 1950s, African countries gained their independence through national liberation movements. After diplomatic relations with China were established, they had started to send students to the country.

The choice of academic education is diverse, including electronics, communications, computers, physics, medicine, textiles, agriculture, law, Chinese, management, arts and mechanics.

In addition to government scholarships, China has also provided training to many self-funded students. From 1995 to last year there were nearly 1,700 such students. Those training are concentrated in domains such as Chinese, medicine, management and computer science.

In particular, Rwanda and Tanzania encourage students to study in China by providing full scholarships. The funds for African exchange scholarships are growing. In recent years, according to the needs of African students and Chinese university teaching, China and African countries have gradually readjusted the percentage of their target students and increased the proportion of graduate students enrolled.

Last year, of 4,357 African students, 57 percent pursued master's and doctoral degrees. Some Chinese universities have even started to provide them with the entire curriculum in English or French. Now they have more options in choosing courses.

At present, China's educational help to Africa aims to promote the self-development of African societies, where the lack of educational resources is hampering development.

There is no doubt that the development of education in Africa requires international help and support, but the absolute reliance on foreign aid has brought with it a number of problems, with many African indigenous issues being overlooked or poorly resolved.

China's educational help is aimed at strengthening Africa's ability to build and train its own talent. China's development experience is passed on to African students, and it is up to everyone to decide whether the China model best suits their country.

To help these students better adapt to their work when returning to Africa, the Chinese government is also helping African universities set up specialized laboratories locally, and sending teachers and experts to teach and conduct collaborative research.

Last year China carried out nearly 120 educational and academic assistance projects in 34 African countries, and set up 23 laboratories that cover advanced biology, microbiology, computer science, physics, analytical chemistry, food preservation processing, materials, gardening, civil engineering and measurement, and Chinese language teaching.

With more African students traveling to China to study, China and African universities are uncovering more potential for inter-school exchange and scientific cooperation. Some African universities' specialties such as anthropology, ethnology, geology, mining, medicine and archeology have opened up new prospects for cooperation with China.

China's reform and opening-up in education also greatly appeals to African universities. Africa and China are complementary in the academic field, so the two can learn from one another.

At the end of last year 57 Chinese colleges and universities had established intercollegiate cooperation and exchanges with 43 African colleges and universities. With funding from the Chinese government, Chinese universities can now enroll quality African students with the help of Chinese embassies in Africa.

Chinese universities now know where to pick their best African students. For example, there is a greater percentage of Ethiopian students who study civil engineering, Ghanian, Angolan and Zambian students in water and energy mining-related majors, and Mozambicans in agriculture.

China's educational exchanges and cooperation with Africa demand "mutual benefit and common development".

Unlike Western and other international organizations, Chinese educational help to Africa comes with no other conditions. China does not dictate educational policies to African countries, and does not interfere in their educational development.

Educational exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa are pragmatic in getting the best results with limited investment. There is a great focus on the effectiveness of cooperation between the two sides.

The Chinese government has implemented various initiatives and developed a series of practical measures for African education. China is constantly improving the follow-up mechanisms to strengthen cooperation.

For example, to ensure that the Chinese Government Scholarship can best reflect the needs of African students and improve efficiency when they are on scholarships, the Ministry of Education requires that first-year students study Chinese for one or two years before beginning their vocational studies so they will better mingle with Chinese locals.

The main basis for China-Africa cooperation in education projects emphasizes two-way symmetrical communication, but it does not exclude multilateral cooperation.

With the Sharm el-Sheikh Action Plan (2010-12), China will strengthen its dialogue and exchanges with the African Union and its sub-regional organizations, especially in promoting African integration through education.

The Chinese government is also exploring new ways of expanding in-depth education cooperation with Africa. Such cooperation is carried out under the United Nations Strategic Framework.

The author is a professor at Tianjin University of Technology and Education.

(China Daily Africa Weekly 07/12/2013 page9)