China holds educational exhibition in Accra
The Chinese Embassy in Accra has held an educational exhibition to enable Ghanaian students to explore opportunities that are available in the sector in that country.
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Known as “2023 China Higher Education Exhibition”, the event allowed officials from about 25 universities in China to interact with the students to give them first hand information on various academic programmes offered by the universities.
The patrons also learnt about the latest information on China’s study policy, scholarships and open partnerships with higher level institutions in that country.
The exhibition was jointly organised by the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, the China Scholarship Council and the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, among others.
Significance
The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, Lu Kun, said the exhibition highlighted the need for students to explore opportunities outside the country and acquire knowledge to improve on their capabilities.
He said an estimated 6,500 Ghanaian students had studied in China, making it the second highest among the number of African students in China for many years.
This, the ambassador said, explained the importance the Chinese Government attached to Ghana as an education hub in the region.
“I hope we can deepen bilateral friendships and people-to-people exchanges, and contribute to China-Ghana relations and also building China-Africa community with a shared future,” Mr Kun said.
The Provost of the College of Education at the University of Ghana, Prof. Samuel Nii Ardey, also said the exhibition would enhance the educational and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
He said the China Scholarship Council offered the highest number of scholarships globally, about 120,000 annually.
“Sixty thousand of these scholarships are offered to Chinese students to study outside China and another 60 thousand offered to foreigners to study in China.
“Of the number of the scholarships offered to foreigners, 500 are given to Ghanaians,” Prof. Ardey said and added that “this is commendable, however it can be improved”.
Prof. Ardey further said “it is my hope that beyond individual scholarships, we will be able to forge partnerships that will lead to scientific knowledge-sharing and research collaborations between academics from the participating universities and their counterparts in Ghana and the West African sub region”.
Commendation
The Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum, commended the organisers for the initiative, saying the event signified a pivotal moment in the collective pursuit of knowledge, innovation, and global collaboration.
He said it was imperative to equip students with not only technical skills demanded at the workplace, but also with critical thinking, adaptability, and global perspective that would empower them to be true agents of change.
“This could be observed in China's higher educational institutions which have demonstrated an unwavering dedication to nurturing well-rounded individuals who are not only proficient in their fields, but also equipped with the wisdom to navigate an increasingly complex world”, Mr Adutwum said.
