The University of Johannesburg (UJ) recently celebrated its growing relationship with the Johannesburg Chinese Consulate through a meet and greet held at the University’s Ubuntu Chambers on its Auckland Park Kingsway campus.
Organised through UJ’s Division for Global Engagement, the event was geared at highlighting the ways in which the collaboration between the two entities has grown. A central part of this collaboration has been the scholarship programme for international students launched in 2021. Over the past five years, the scholarship has seen 35 students funded for their studies at UJ, with R650,000 awarded to deserving yet financially constrained students.
Ntombise Mangqase, Director of Fundraising and Administration at Global Engagement, served as the programme director for the day and shared that the relationship has led to meaningful cultural, academic, and financial exchanges.
Setting the scene, UJ Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research and Innovation, Professor Refilwe Phaswana-Mafuya, said UJ was proud to have a budding relationship with the People’s Republic of China through the consulate and the universities. “We are happy about the growing partnership between the People’s Republic of China and our university. We perceive this partnership as strategic, collaborative and rooted in academic excellence and cultural exchange. We share objectives such as advancing education research and people to people ties between South Africa and China, we want to reaffirm UJ’s commitment to deepening cooperation across teaching, research and innovation,” she said.
Speaking on behalf of the consulate, the Consul General, Johannesburg, Pan Qingjiang, said the relationship was growing from strength to strength. “With our joint efforts, we have forged a very strong partnership, from hosting youth dialogue, China by Train to sponsorship in form of scholarship. These initiatives have served as a catalyst for intellectual and knowledge exchange for both South African and Chinese students. Beyond that, we have witnessed increasingly frequent and fruitful exchanges and collaborations between Chinese universities and UJ. I fully agree with Professor Phaswana-Mafuya and I wish to reaffirm to you that such relationship will continue to grow from strength to strength,” Qingjiang said.
One of the beneficiaries, Takunda Dhokotera, a third-year Mechanical Engineering student from Zimbabwe, shared a moving anecdote about his dreams finally being within reach because of this support. “I would just like to echo our gratitude on behalf of all the students who are here towards the consulate, the Consulate General, the consulate attaches, and our university staff who have made this opportunity possible. Please do accept our sincere and unending gratitude. I would like to reassure you that this is not just a mere token of money, but also an opportunity to amass knowledge. It is about dignity and that is much, much more,” Dhokotera said.
Another student, Shantel Machinya, a third-year Computer Science and Informatics student also from Zimbabwe, reflected on the efforts made by the University to make such opportunities available. “Your investment in us is not merely financial support, but it is a powerful statement of belief in the transformative potential of education, cross cultural dialog and shared progress. To the leadership of the University of Johannesburg, we extend our heartfelt thanks for ensuring such meaningful opportunities. Opportunities are made accessible through your dedication to fundraising and administration, that ensures that these opportunities are not only created but sustained for future generations. As beneficiaries of this generosity, we’re inspired to work diligently, to excel in our studies and to contribute positively to the communities and the world at large,” Machinya said.
In closing, acting Senior Director of Global Engagement Professor Sarah Gravett echoed the sentiments of thanks shared with the consulate general. “Helping these students moving from these young, scared people to these confident young people is a huge contribution. So again, thank you very much for the contribution that you are making to the lives of these young people and as you heard it is a life changing contribution,” she said.
