News & Events
H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya (centre) is received at the exhibition by Xu Jinghu, special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs (right) and the Chinese Embassy charge d'affaires Li Xuhang (left) during the Blue economy exhibition at the KICC. The President was accompanied by former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga (2nd right)
The Inaugural Sustainable Blue Economy Conference was held at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre, Nairobi, Kenya from 26th to 28th November, 2018. The main focus of the conference was prioritizing sustainable management of water resources to boost food security, climate mitigation, industrial growth and employment creation. More than 1,700 delegates from 183 countries attended this conference.
The Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University participated in an exhibition to mark the conference under the auspices of the Chinese Embassy. Confucius Institute volunteers adorned traditional Chinese costumes and showcased Chinese tea art, Chinese silk and calligraphy including tea sets, porcelain, Go, silk, Peking opera masks, Four Treasures of the Study, seals, traditional costumes and many other elements.
On the afternoon of 27th November, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, visited the Chinese exhibition booths. Xu Jinghu, special representative of the Chinese government on African affairs and the Chinese Embassy charge d’affaires, Li Xuhang, received the President and took him through the various exhibits including the Maritime Silk Road. Prof. Li Jing, Chinese director at Kenyatta University Confucius Institute, presented the silk statue of Confucius and the Analects of Confucius silk book to President Kenyatta.
H.E Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, points at some of the displays at the stand manned by the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University during the Blue economy exhibition at the KICC. Looking on is the Chinese Director, Prof. Li Jing (left) and the former Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Raila A. Odinga (third right)
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Chinese Director, Prof. Li Jing (far right) pictured with distinguished delegates at the 13th Global Confucius Institute Conference in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China – December, 2018
The 13th Global Confucius Institute Conference was held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, on 4th and 5th December, 2018. The theme was “Facilitating the New Development Through Reform and Innovation; Forging a Brighter Future with Concerted Efforts”. Participants discussed new ways to teach Mandarin as a foreign language and how to better enhance cultural exchanges. The event welcomed over 1,500 delegates from 154 countries and regions, including university presidents, scholars, Confucius Institute directors and education personnel.
The Chinese Director, Prof. Li Jing, attended the annual conference on behalf of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University. The conference was also attended by Prof. Zhang Wenxin, the Vice-Chancellor of Shandong Normal University accompanied by Prof. Zhou Lianyong, the Director of International Affairs office. SDNU is the partner University of the CI at Kenyatta University.
The keynote speech at the opening ceremony was delivered by Madam Sun Chunlan, Vice-Premier of the State Council of China and Chair of the Council of Confucius Institute Headquarters who spoke highly of the contribution made by the Confucius Institute in facilitating the learning of Mandarin and serving economic and trade cooperation between China and other countries. "Through joint efforts of both Chinese sides and their foreign partners, the education quality of the Confucius Institute has steadily increased, with increasingly active cultural exchanges and continuously enhanced service capability,"
There are 548 Confucius Institutes and 1,193 Confucius Classrooms in 154 countries and regions in total, drawing students from across the world to learn Chinese language and culture. Over 46,200 full-time and part-time teachers currently work at various Confucius Institutes and Classrooms, teaching more than nine million students to date, according to the Confucius Institute Headquarters. The Conference was closed by Mr.Tian Xuejun, the Chinese Vice-Minister of Education.
After the global conference, the Chinese director visited Shandong Normal University in Jinan, Shandong Province, where she met with Prof. Hao Xiuli, the Party Secretary of School of International Education, Shandong Normal University. She also had a meeting with Prof. Wang Qihe and Prof. Zhao Wenjing, both of the School of International Education as well as Prof. Chang Qingfeng, the Chairman of Department of overseas students’ education. Their meetings focused on the management of scholarship students and agreed that the two sides will enhance communication and collaboration, strengthen management to create a good learning environment for students and improve their academic performance. After the panel discussion, Prof. Li Jing visited the scholarship students who are studying in the school and had a group photo with them.
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Participants follow the proceedings during the Teacher Training Seminar at the BSSC
The Local teacher training programme has become a characteristic activity of the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University over the last two years. In order to improve the level of teaching Chinese language among the local teachers and to promote the development of professional competence, the Confucius Institute organized a local teacher training seminar from October 16th to 17th, 2018. With the theme generally touching on culture and foreign language teaching and acquisition, a total of seven insightful presentations were delivered during the two day seminar.
The training seminar kicked off with the beautiful lion dance and other performances by teachers and stu dents of the Confucius Institute. The CI director, Dr. Kamau Wango, in his opening remarks, welcomes all the invited guests and participants and gave a summary of the achievements of Confucius Institute in 2018 and particularly encouraged students to take the Chinese proficiency test (HSK) in order to make full use of the opportunities brought about by Chinese language competency.
The new Chinese Director Prof. Li Jing delivered a lecture on Confucianism and its influence in the contemporary world. She also introduced the development status of the Confucius Institutes, which enabled the audiences to have a new and deeper understanding of Confucius and his thoughts. Ms. Rebecca Kamau from the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development gave the audience a comprehensive
review of the status and characteristics of Chinese teaching in Kenya and its place in the new Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) Ms. Lydia Wamuti, a Foreign Languages lecturer at Kenyatta University, explained the relationship between language and culture while Mr. Zhuo Hao, a lecturer at the Confucius Institute, summed up his experience in teaching culture by sharing the principles and methods of teaching Chinese culture.
Dr. Milcah M. Chokah, a French lecturer in the Department of Foreign Languages at Kenyatta University, opened the proceedings of the second day by delivering a detailed presentation on the teaching and acquisition of foreign languages in a multilingual world. Ms. Susan Wachira, the exam coordinator at the Confucius Institute, shared her experience of teacher training in China specifically designed for local teacher training and language testing. Mr. Yang Chi, the Head of Erdemann Chinese School and a former lecturer at the Confucius Institute conducted an interactive session with the audience to demonstrate the application of games in Chinese language teaching. The seminar focused on practicality, professionalism, richness of content and diversity in application.
The Chinese director Prof. Li Jing in her closing remarks expressed sincere gratitude to the guests and participants and put forward her ideas and reflections on the local teacher training in the coming year. All the participants were awarded certificates of participation. This training seminar not only provided academic guidance for Confucius Institute teachers, but also provided a platform for Chinese teaching exchanges and opened up new horizons for research. Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University will continue to work towards training outstanding local Chinese teachers in order to facilitate the development of Chinese language teaching in the University.
The Chinese Director,Prof.Li Jing awarding a certificate to one of the participants at the close of the Teacher Training Seminar at the BSSC-October,2018
Dr.Milcah Chokah presents her lecture on foreign language learning and acquisition in a multilingual world during the Teacher Training Seminar at the BSSC
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In May 2013, the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University sent 7 of our top students to represent us at the countrywide “Chinese Bridge” Competition. The competitions, which entail speech, talent show and Question and Answer, are held yearly at Nairobi University for all students studying Chinese in Kenya. The overall winner of the competition receives an opportunity to represent Kenya in China at the international “Chinese Bridge” Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students. Our student, Miss Anne Nyambura Ndung’u (pictured below), emerged the winner in Kenya and will proceed to China on Sunday 30th June, 2013 for the international competitions.
(Anne Nyambura Ndung’u)
The "Chinese Bridge" Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students is a large-scale international contest sponsored by Hanban (Confucius Institute Headquarters), and is well-known in the cultural and educational exchanges worldwide. The competition is held yearly, organized and carried out by the Organizing Committee. The “Chinese Bridge” Competition aims to arouse the enthusiasm of students in various countries in learning Chinese and strengthen the world's understanding of Chinese language and culture. At present, the competition has become an important platform for college students of various countries to learn Chinese language and learn about China. It builds a communication bridge between young people of China and other countries.
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