Confucius institute to include vocational and technical programmes

Robert Anane/Elizabeth Ofosu, GNA
Accra, June 1, GNA - The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana is seeking to add to its subjects of tuition, vocational and technical training programmes for Ghanaians.

This is expected to benefit both Ghanaians and Chinese enterprises.

Dr Melian Mei, Director of the Confucius Institute, said this on Wednesday, at a ceremony to mark the third anniversary of the institute's operation.

Recalling the achievements of the institute in the past year, Dr Melian said the institute had enjoyed a stable increase of enrolment, with a present population of more than 2,500 students.

She said the Confucius Institute also recommended three students from the University of Ghana, to take part in international Chinese competitions, all of whom performed very well by attaining Confucius Institute Scholarship as part of their prizes.

'The institute also helped more than 30 students mainly from the University of Ghana to gain Confucius Institute Scholarship, and other kinds of scholarships for MA degrees, one year and half a year's study in China,' said Dr Melian.

She said 12 students obtained Chinese Ambassadors' Awards for Brilliant Students, whilst the institute also organised a team visit to China last summer, which further promoted the cooperation between the University of Ghana and the Confucius Institute Headquarters/Hanban, and the Zhejiang University of Technology.

Dr Melian also recalled a Campus Recruitment Fai, which the Confucius Institute organised last year saying, 'It helped Ghanaian students find jobs, and set up a bridge between Ghanaian students and Chinese enterprises in Ghana.

She said looking forward, the institute would continue to realise its potential by expanding its core function to promote Chinese Language teaching and Chinese culture on the one hand.

'On the other hand, we seek to organise vocational and technical training programmes for Ghanaian people, with the help of Chinese chambers and enterprises,' said Dr Melian.

She said such training was tailored to benefit both Ghanaians and Chinese enterprises.

Professor Samuel Kwame Offei, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, commended the institute for its contribution towards enhancing employment opportunities for young people, as well as helping them develop employable skills.

'I will like to seize this opportunity to express my own and the University's appreciation to the Confucius Institute headquarters in Hanban, the Chinese Embassy in Ghana, the various Chinese Chambers and all other institutions and individuals who have contributed to the success of the Confucius Institute over the last three years,' he said.

The Pro-Vice Chancellor hoped that the various stakeholders would continue to support the institute, as it continued to grow and expand.

Mr Jiang Zhouteng, Political Counsellor of the Chinese Embassy, commended the administrators of the institute and said, the institute was blessed with a bright future.

'This is because Ghana and China both have long standing relations, leaders of both countries lend great importance to the purpose of the institute, and also, the Confucius institute has highly dedicated teachers and administrators,'

He said judging from the institute's present achievements, it was headed for great success in the near future.

The ceremony was interspersed with performances such as Chinese dance, Kungfu and a number of songs by Ghanaian students.

The Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana, co-hosted by the University of Ghana and the Zhejiang University of Technology in China, was established in May 2013, and started running in April 2014.

It supports educational and cultural exchanges between China and Ghana, by promoting the teaching and learning of the Chinese language and culture in Ghana.

Currently, the institute is the only Chinese Proficiency Test centre in Ghana, which makes it possible for Ghanaians to gain scholarships to study in China. It has established six teaching sites, with over 2,000 students.

GNA