UoN Vice-Chancellor Attends World Chinese Language Conference in Beijing
The World Chinese Language Conference was held from December 7th - 9th, 2023, In a remarkable display of global Chinese language, culture, and exchange that was sponsored by Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China, organized by Center for Language Education and Cooperation, Chinese International Education Foundation and International Society for Chinese Language Teaching. The conference, held at the China National Convention Center under the theme "Chinese for the World, Openness into the Future," brought together prominent academics, Chinese language experts, government officials, and educators from across the globe to discuss the role of the Chinese language globally.
University of Nairobi (UoN) Vice-Chancellor Prof. Stephen Kiama participated in the World Chinese Language Conference in Beijing. Prof. Kiama's presence underscored UoN's commitment to fostering cultural understanding and linguistic diversity on a global scale. The conference provided a platform for leaders in academia to engage in meaningful discussions about the growing importance of the Chinese language in today's interconnected world.
Prof. Kiama participated in various plenary forums. In the forum themed Foreign Language Policies and the Demands of Chinese Learning Globally, he shared how the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi had spearheaded the development of a teacher training programme with the Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, where the participants discussed the Constructions and Development of Chinese Majors in Foreign Universities. In addition, he moderated a discussion entitled : The Future Development of Confucius Institutes: Enhancing Characteristic Development to Increase Influence of the Confucius Institute Brand, emphasizing that localization is a key factor in the development of Confucius Institutes.
CIUON has excelled in teaching the Chinese language since its inception on 19th December 2005. During the conference, it was awarded the 2023 Outstanding HSK Test Center for being one of the best examination centers (HSK, HSKK, YCT) for the year 2023. This year, CIUON started offering the International Chinese Language Teachers' Certificate Examination.
During the conference, the University of Nairobi, Tianjin Normal University, and the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation signed a tripartite agreement on the joint undergraduate programme in Chinese International Education that will see students studying the Chinese language at the Faculty of Education proceed to China during their third and fourth years of study. Prof. Kiama’s active involvement in the conference showcased UoN's dedication to staying at the forefront of Chinese educational advancements and embracing opportunities for collaboration with institutions worldwide.
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The theme "Chinese for the World, Openness into the Future" resonated with the conference participants, reflecting the increasing significance of the Chinese language in international diplomacy, trade, and academic cooperation. Prof. Kiama's participation further solidified UoN's position as a leading institution in Africa, actively engaging with the global academic community.
About 2,000 Chinese and foreign delegates, high-level government officials, representatives from international organizations, and heads of language and cultural institutions attended the conference.
The conference also served as a platform for building partnerships between UoN and other institutions.
In a media interview with Startimes and China Daily, Prof. Kiama highlighted UoN's efforts to expand language offerings, including Chinese language courses, as part of its commitment to providing students with a well-rounded and globally relevant education. With the new Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC) that introduced the Chinese language from Grade 4 in 2019, Prof. Kiama emphasized the need to train local teachers to research and develop localized teaching materials to fully actualize Chinese language teaching
