University of The Gambia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Guizhou University from China in a ceremony held at UTG Campus in Kanifing on Tuesday.

The ceremony also witnessed the establishment of the Confucius Institute by Guizhou University at the UTG which aims to render more support to the country’s highest tertiary institution.

This partnership will strengthen the newly established relations between the two universities and provide lots of opportunities and benefits. These include cultural promotion of language, exchange of faculty staff and students visit and short term training.

The Chinese ambassador to The Gambia Zhang Jiming said the MOU between the two universities signifies President Barrow’s visit to China last year where he signed series of cooperation with the Chinese president.

According to Ambassador Jiming, this is an important beginning between the two universities. He said China’s bilateral tie with The Gambia includes cultural exchanges, people to people and most importantly higher education.

“This MOU reflects the deepen cooperation between the two countries,” he said. “My embassy will continue to support and facilitate the cooperation between China and The Gambia.”

The head of delegation from Guizhou University Assistant President Zhang Daling, said now their university has a new president in charge of foreign office and pays more attention to their collaboration programmes with the University of The Gambia and that is why he sent a delegation to the country.

Mr. Dalin who expressed his delight for the hospitality accorded to him since arrival said his university is ready to collaborate with UTG and help as much as they can.

Guizhou University since its inception in 1902 has been one of the leading universities and intends on helping UTG in the areas of agriculture, engineering, and providing lecturers who will help in teaching the Chinese language.

The vice chancellor of UTG Prof. Faqir Anjum said; “there are many opportunities we can have out of this MOU because they will be conducting short term training in different areas especially in agriculture, environmental sciences, administration and in science subjects.

According the vice chancellor, “beside these training, we’ll be having scholarships from the Guizhou University and the Confucius Institute this is just the beginning,” he said.

Author: Sankulleh Gibril Janko