News & Events

MARKETING MEETING WITH KENYATTA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS ASSOCIATION (KUSA) OFFICIALS

On the afternoon of January 31^st 2022, Confucius Institute Director Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai met KUSA officials in her office to discuss the Begginner’s in Chinese Language and Culture course. During the recent Career Week, contact was established with the University student governing body who discovered that for only Ksh. 2000 Bonafide KU students could learn Chinese language and culture at the Institute.

The officials said many students were not aware of the subsidy offered and were more than willing to partner with the Institute to popularize the course to the student body. They proposed partnership that will see KUCI grace many relevant KUSA events, publish adverts on the KUSA website and make use of KUSA ambassadors to do door to door marketing of the course. They sought clarity on how the Institute administers classes to cater for all KU students, when exams are administered and how the certification is done.

KUCI Administrator encouraged them to ask students to take up the course as classes are held in the evening from 5:30 PM after normal classes. She said exams are also administered at least 2 weeks before the University’s main exams to avoid clashes. She said many KU students have benefited from the course by graduating as multilingual professionals that serve the ever growing need for Chinese language speakers in Kenya.

The Director reassured KUSA of her support and emphasized the need to add unique certifications to one’s degree to increase marketability. She said the students can also get scholarships to further their Chinese language study at Shandong Normal University in China and or seek postgraduate scholarships in different fields. She said the partnership with China offers many opportunities to students which should be seized while they are still students of KU.

The meeting that was attended by 5 KUSA officials namely; Mohhamed Ibrahim (KUSA organizing Secretary), Teddy Odhiambo (KUSA Secretary General), Kennedy Mugambi (Chair KUSA ambassadors), Akinah Jabes (KUSA committee member) and Michael Asule (Ambassador KUSA).

From left: Kennedy Mugambi (KUSA ambassador’s Chair), Teddy Odhiambo (KUSA Secretary General), Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai (KUCI Director), Mohhamed Ibrahim (KUSA Organizing Secretary), Ms. Ruth Sarah Achieng’ (KUCI Administrator) and Akinah Jabes (KUSA committee member)

From left; Akinah Jabes (KUSA committee member), Mohhamed Ibrahim (KUSA organizing Secretary), Teddy Odhiambo (KUSA Secretary General), Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai (Director KUCI), Kennedy Mugambi (KUSA ambassador’s Chair), and Michael Asule (Ambassador KUSA). After the meeting at KUCI Director’s office.

Details: Last Updated: 24 February 2022

The first ever YCT (Youth Chinese Test) exams was held on November 14, 2021. This was a great milestone for the Institute which is an approved HSK/HSKK/YCT examination Centre. This is an international Chinese proficiency exam meant to gauge the proficiency of young foreign learners of the language. It is set and marked by Beijing and administered only by approved Centers globally. The Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University attaches great importance to the organization of the examination, and the examination staff carefully conducted pre examination training for the candidates participating in the YCT examination.

To ensure compliance with MOH Covid-19 regulations, the day before the examination, staff cleaned and disinfected classes. The Institute also made available hand sanitizers, masks and took body temperature for all candidates and invigilators.

It is a well-known fact that persons that start learning a foreign language at a young age are the ones that end up being excellent at it as compared to those who learn as adults. It is also the hope of the institution that all the candidates that sat for the exam will eventually join Kenyatta University once they attain University going age. Each candidate was accompanied by parents who patiently waited outside the LCC building, chatting their way through the exam time. They expressed their satisfaction on how KU had organized the exams and hoped their children would all pass with flying colors. Chinese schools and Universities use scores from YCT and HSK/HSKK exams to award entry and scholarship opportunities to foreigners who wish to study in China. Chinese employers also check the score of these tests to determine proficiency in the language.

As a way to encourage Chinese non first language teenagers to learn Chinese language, cultivate and improve their Chinese speaking ability, in 2004 Hanban brought together a team of Chinese language teaching experts from China and abroad who developed the New YCT exams. They did it on the basis of a full investigation and understanding of actual Chinese teaching situation of overseas teenagers. YCT aims to enhance candidates' self-confidence and sense of honor in learning Chinese. It follows the principle of "combination of examination and teaching", and closely combines the examination design with the current situation of International Youth Chinese teaching and the use of teaching materials, "promoting teaching through examination" and "promoting learning through examination".

YCT test meets the test needs of the classrooms under the Confucius Institute and local primary and secondary school students' Chinese learners. It not only provides a reference for candidates to understand and improve their Chinese ability, but also provides a basis for the school's Chinese teaching.

The youngest candidate in the 2021 KUCI YCT exam was 7 years old.

Chinese volunteer Lin Zhe supervises the candidates

Chinese lecturer Zheng Shanpeng takes temperature of all candidates in strict adhere to Kenya’s MOH Covid-19 guidelines

Children taking YCT exams

Details: Last Updated: 28 January 2022

The 2022 Kenyatta University Career was held from the 22^nd – 28^th January. Themed ‘Dynamic World; Creativity, Innovation and Technology as the main skills for the future of work’ it was yet another occasion for Confucius Institute to showcase its services to the public and market its courses to potential clients. The Institute proudly sponsors the event in line with its core mandate to popularize Chinese language through participation in marketing events like the KU Career Week. This year’s event reached well over ten thousand (10,000) students drawn from Kenyan high schools and Kenyatta University. It was held both virtually and physically.

As a sponsor the Institute was invited to pitch tent and engage participants for three (3) full days. It targeted High school students on Saturday 22^nd January 2022, during the ‘high school day’ and marketed; Proficiency, Certificate, Diploma and soon to be launched Degree in Chinese language and Culture programmes. For the two (2) extra days the main course that was popularized was Beginner’s in Chinese language and culture, a special course for bona fide KU students.

At the KUCI tent there were discussions on the importance of learning a foreign language in the current globalized world and particularly Chinese language. Students and participants were encouraged to not just learn the language but do it at the Confucius Institute at Kenyatta University. This is because the Institute has both Kenyan and Chinese members of staff; offers scholarships to excelling students to further their studies in China; offers summer camp programme; offers many opportunities to learn and interact with Chinese culture thorough a detailed annual calendar of Chinese cultural events; it is a HSK/HSKK center; links graduates to jobs in the market; has state of the art infrastructure and facilities that house programmes and offers quality Kenyatta University standard certification from Proficiency to Diploma.

Apart from visiting exhibition tents, participants were treated to three (3) days of seminars at the Student Business Centre. Here, they listened and interacted with invited special guests from top corporates in Kenya. The speakers talked on various topics including CV writing, career choices, acing interviews and the changing dynamics in the world of work.

As a treat to anyone that visited the tent, the Chinese members of staff asked for their English names, translated them to Chinese and wrote them on special names cards with and gave them as seniors.

Main advert for the 2022 KU Career Week

KUCI KUCI staff talking to high school students

KUCI Ambassadors manning the exhibition tent led by Purity Kinyanjui (in yellow pink traditional Chinese attire)

The lion dance has become a favorite to many participants in the KU annual career week

High school students enjoy ‘lion dance’ by KUCI dance team

2 Visitors at the KUCI tent take a photo

Details: Last Updated: 02 February 2022

On the afternoon of November 5^th 2021, the board and staff of Confucius Institute received a new Chinese Director. In a luncheon that took place at the Kenyatta University Conference Centre, Prof. Pei Guanggang was officially received to take office for a four year period.

Prof. Pei takes over from Prof. Li Jing who has been serving for the last 3 (three) years. Prof. Pei was officially dispatched by Chinese International Education Foundation and partner University Shandong Normal. The Office of the Chinese Director is occupied by a seasoned Chinese Language professor, who links the Confucius Institute and KU with partners in china. He/she is also in charge of Chinese members of staff and coordinates the dispatch and receipt of faculty and students on exchange programmes. They manage administration of the International HSK/HSKK exams and also serve as the consultant on some Chinese related nonacademic matters affecting the University, Chinese Embassy in Kenya and any other stakeholders.

Since inception the Institute has so far hosted seven (7) Chinese Directors and Prof. Pei shall be the 8^th. Speaking at the luncheon, Prof. Pei said he was glad to take over the office. He praised his predecessor Prof. Li Jing who he said had given him a lot of support during the transition period. He said he looked forward to working closely with everyone to achieve the set mandate of the Institute.

Local Director Dr. Hellen Kiende Guantai said she had worked very well with the former Chinese Director and assured the board and staff that the same shall continue with the new Chinese Director. She said it was important that all appreciate the difference in language and culture and work in unity to continue producing excellent speakers of Chinese Language.

The KUCI Board Chair Prof. Leonard Kisovi said he was happy to receive Prof. Pei. He wished him a productive and happy stay in Kenya and assured him of great support from the board of Directors. He said over the years Kenyatta University and Shandong Normal University have worked well together, and that is made possible by a good working collaboration between the office of the Local and Chinese Directors.

Along with the new Director, Volunteers Lin Zhe, Luo Duoduo and Nan Aiqing were also officially introduced. They shall teach Chinese language for periods of 1(one) and or two (2) years.