Professor Zhou Guiping, an Associate Professor of the International Cooperation and Exchange, Hubei University of Automotive Technology (HUAT) Shiyan in the People’s Republic of China, paid a courtesy call on the Dean of the International Programmes Office, Professor Daniel Y.A. Duah on August 21, 2023.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, HUAT, and the Chinese International Education Fund have signed a three way agreement to establish a Confucius Institute at KNUST. Professor Zhou stated that the Confucius Institute is an establishment tradition to develop fruitful linkages with local and foreign institutions as part of their commitment towards promoting positive growth and intellectual enlargement and change in the dynamic global environment. This will afford the opportunity for KNUST to expose its undergraduate students to modern standard Chinese Language and to promote the dissemination of knowledge of Chinese Language and Culture in West Africa.

As the former president of a Confucius Institute at University of Cape Coast, Ghana, Professor Zhou brings on board her expertise as the acting China Director in the establishment of a similar institute at KNUST. The proposed date for the inauguration of the establishment is December 1, 2023.

On behalf of the Vice-Chancellor and Management of the University, Prof. Duah welcomed her to KNUST, the best university in the world for SDG Goal 4, Quality Education, according to the Times Higher Education in 2023. He expressed his excitement about the visit and recalled the importance of International languages in a global competitive world adding that this would be a good addition to the Chinese language being taught as a course currently in KNUST. He recalled the efforts made at establishing the Confucius Institute which started early 2022 and looked forward to the official kick off event. He wished Prof. Zhou the very best for the good of KNUST. He concluded that KNUST would give off her best to support this project.

Present at the meeting were Professors Min Zuchuan and Cai Xiaohui, both Full Time Visiting Professors at the Department of Language and Communication Sciences of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, KNUST; and Mrs. Yvonne Baiden, Assistant Registrar of the International Programmes Office.