To enhance international academic collaborations and provide valuable practical experience to students, the University of Cape Coast (UCC) has signed a 5-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hunan University in China.
The MoU, according to the Ghana Director of Confucius Institute, Professor Ishmael Mensah seeks to pave the way for internship opportunities among students of the two universities.
He revealed this at the opening ceremony of the Chinese culture week celebration on Saturday 17 June 2023 at the Confucius Institute of the University of Cape Coast (UCC) and welcomed the Delegation from the Education Department of Hunan Province.
According to him, the agreement marks a significant milestone in fostering educational cooperation and cultural exchange between Ghana and China and will further offer students from the Confucius Institute, UCC, and Hunan University the unique opportunity to participate in internships at various departments and research centers within the two universities.
“…students from UCC would go to Hunan City and embark on internship programs as part of the language immersion program. And then the other side of the coin is that students from Hunan City University who are also majoring in English will also have the opportunity to come to Cape Coast.”
In addition, he explains that the Chinese enterprises in Ghana will also be an open avenue for the students to also learn at first-hand the English language, and improve upon their English proficiency.
Prof Mensah told ATLFMNEWS he believes this will help the students to gain first-hand experience in a different cultural and academic environment.
According to him, there is already an existing MoU between the University of Cape Coast and Hunan City University as part of the development of the Confucius Institute.
But added that “this specific MoU is intended to promote internship opportunities for students of both universities”
As part of the MoU, a High delegation from Hunan University comprising Dr. Wang Jianhua, Deputy Director of Hunan Provincial Department of Education, Prof. HE Zhen, President of Hunan City University, Mr. Tang Hong, the Chairman of the Ghana Association of Chinese Societies and the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce among other official Chinese Enterprises in Ghana did the visitation to the University of Cape Coast.
Professor Mensah indicated that the visit is to further deepen the relationship between the two universities and to aid in assessing the activities of the Confucius Institute by the officials from Hunan University.
Also, delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, the Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Professor Johnson Nyarko Boampong expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership stating that, the MoU with Hunan University represents an incredible opportunity for UCC students to gain valuable international exposure and enrich their educational journey.
The University of Cape Coast has had a long-standing relationship with Hunan City University, which came later in establishing the Confucius Institute at this university.
Confucius Institute at UCC was established to facilitate the teaching of the Chinese language and culture as well as to promote cultural exchanges between China and Ghana.
Prof Johnson Boampong maintained that within the few years of its establishment, the institute has achieved significant feats including a steady increase in teaching centers and enrolment of students.
Others also include the introduction of the Bachelor of Arts, Chinese program, facilitation of cultural and academic exchanges between schools, and exchanges of students and academic officials in China and Ghana.
Also, the organization of a number of Chinese cultural activities, academic conferences, and job fairs, and the provision of employment opportunities in Chinese enterprises in Ghana for students and graduates of the University of Cape Coast.
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Source: Eric Sekyi/ATLFMNEWS
