Mr Sibusiso Reuben Bakana, a Magister Technologiae of Electrical Engineering graduate at the University of Johannesburg (UJ), has acquired a presidential scholarship in China, after he excelled academically.
Mr Bakana has been awarded the Jiangsu University Presidential Scholarship and admitted to the School of Computer Science and Telecommunications Engineering in Jiangsu University, China.
He will partake as a PhD candidate in the programme of Pattern Recognition and Intelligent Systems from September 2017 until July 2020.
The 29-year old alumnus from Ivory Park has graduated with a Magister Technologiae of Electrical Engineering under the supervision of Prof Bhekisipho Twala. His dissertation is entitled “Investigation and mitigation of technical electric power losses within City Power distribution network”.
According to Mr Bakana: “I appreciate the hospitality and knowledge learned from the Confucius Institute (UJCI) and as our teachers say, “Chinese needs practise.” The UJCI has broadened my network mostly in China and that indicates a clear participation in strengthening the BRICS agenda in academia through scholarships.”
Mr Bakana, also known as Ba Busi (Chinese name) from the University of Johannesburg Confucius Institute , is part of the first group of students to launch Wushu as a sport and he is enrolling for Basic Mandarin and HSK 1 through the institute.
He said, ”This should inspire most of the postgraduates and under graduates in the university to fulfil their dreams of going to China and learn the Chinese language, because that’s where an understanding about China and its people can start.”
In order to further develop the education of international students, Jiangsu University (JU) provides scholarships for international students who have registered for degree education at the University.
The Presidential Scholarship is set up to subsidize those excellent foreign students and promote their degree education.
He further commented that when he comes back from China, he will continue to contribute to the institution. “When opportunities arise, I will continue with research and add to the artificial intelligence space of the continent and the country in particular.”