On November 7th, 2023, the representative delegation from HUST, consisting of Secretary Rong Ma from the International Education School as the head of the delegation and Dean Jianhua Zhang from the School of Economics as the deputy head of the delegation, departed from Wuhan. They arrived in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, on the morning of November 8th after a stopover in Changsha, marking the commencement of the higher education exhibition activities in three African countries organized by HUST.
In the afternoon of November 8th, the delegation visited the Nairobi-based Chinese-funded company Miniso Africa, which pioneered online e-commerce and provided door-to-door delivery services for express delivery personnel to gain insight into Africa's economic conditions of daily necessities consumption and the like.
On the morning of November 9th, a visit was paid to the University of Nairobi and the Confucius Institute, with the organization and reception being overseen by the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute. The foreign representatives attending the meeting were the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nairobi and representatives from some faculties and departments. The University of Nairobi is known for its large scale, with multiple campuses. It is said to rank among the top five universities in Africa. In the afternoon, an educational exhibition was held for students at the University of Nairobi, with approximately 200 students present. The School of Computer Science and Technology exhibition booth had the highest number of visitors, and a crowd of interested students surrounded it.
On the morning of November 10th, the delegation traveled to Maasai Mara. They visited the University of Marseille in the afternoon to engage in exchange activities. On November 11th, they returned from Maasai Mara to Nairobi.
On November 12th, the delegation flew from Nairobi to Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe. On the morning of November 13th, they visited the China-Zimbabwe Exchange Center to gain insight into the challenges and achievements of overseas Chinese entrepreneurs in Zimbabwe, particularly in the past decade with the implementation of the "Belt and Road" policy, which has brought substantial changes to Zimbabwe. In the afternoon, they set up the exhibition.
On the morning of November 14th, they visited the Harare Institute of Technology, where the institute's vice president received them. The meeting involved representatives from various faculties, including the School of Electronics and Electrical Engineering and the School of Control. They primarily discussed the basic situation of both universities and potential ways of cooperation. In the afternoon, an educational exhibition was held, with over 100 students from different schools, such as the University of Zimbabwe, the Harare Institute of Technology, and the School of Communication, attending. The School of Computer Science and Technology exhibition booth remained the most crowded, with a long queue of students. Most of them showed great interest in studying in China.
On November 15th, 2023, the delegation flew from Harare to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
On November 16th, they visited Addis Ababa University and discussed it with the university president. Both parties introduced the basic information of their respective universities and expressed strong interest in conducting cooperative exchanges. Addis Ababa University ranks among the top 10 universities in Africa, and its students have a solid academic foundation. In the afternoon, an educational exhibition was held at the Palace Square of Addis Ababa University, primarily targeting Addis Ababa University students for educational promotion. Over 100 students attended the event for studying abroad consultations, and the School of Computer Science and Technology continued to have the highest number of inquiries.
On November 17th, they visited the Global Leadership Institute to understand its history and operations. They departed on the evening flight and returned to Wuhan via Guangzhou on November 18th, concluding the entire itinerary of the African education exhibition.
This visit to the three African countries for the education exhibition is of great significance in understanding Africa's social and economic conditions and implementing China's "Belt and Road" policy in Africa. Moreover, through exchanges and communication with representative universities from various countries, it is crucial to promote our university and school to a wide range of students, showcasing our relevant information and advantages. This visit has practical significance in attracting excellent students to pursue their degrees at our school.
