From April 8 to 18, 2025, Liu Guiqin, Party Secretary of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT), led a delegation to visit the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria in South Africa, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the United Nations Environment Programme, Cairo University and Badr University in Egypt. The delegation also visited the Education Office of Chinese Embassies abroad, achieving fruitful results. This visit aimed to thoroughly implement the spirit of the National Education Conference, the “2024-2035 Master Plan on Building China into a Leading Country in Education,” and the “Three-Year Action Plan to Accelerate the Construction of a Leading Country in Education.” The visit sought to further promote high-level international engagement of the university’s education system, deepen exchanges and cooperation with African universities, and leverage world-class educational resources and innovative elements to support the high-quality development of BUCT.
The Delegation’s Visit to the University of the Witwatersrand
At the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa, the delegation held discussions with Professor Lynn Morris, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Thokozani Majozi, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment and President of the South African Academy of Engineering, and heads of relevant faculties and departments. Both sides thoroughly exchanged views on further implementing the “Framework Agreement on the Construction of the China-South Africa Joint Research Center for Clean Energy” signed in 2019, and on enhancing scientific research cooperation and academic exchanges between faculty and students. During the visit, the delegation also toured the university’s Evolutionary Studies Institute, Chemical Engineering Laboratory, Information Engineering Laboratory, Aeronautical Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, and Digital Mining Laboratory.
The Delegation’s Visit to the University of Pretoria
At the University of Pretoria, the delegation met with Professor Francis Petersen, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the university, Professor Sunil Maharaj, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, and heads of relevant faculties and departments. Both sides reached consensus on advancing the construction of the Joint Research Center for Clean Energy, joint student training programs, reciprocal academic visits, and scientific research collaboration.
The Delegation’s Visit to the Culture (Education) Office of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa
At the Culture (Education) Office of the Chinese Embassy in South Africa, Counsellor Li Xudong received the delegation. Liu Guiqin introduced the background of the visit, BUCT’s high-quality development status, and the exchanges and cooperation with South African universities. Li Xudong briefed the delegation on higher education exchanges between China and South Africa, expressed strong support for BUCT’s cooperation with South African universities, emphasizing that such cooperation would promote high-level international openness of China’s education system and provide immense support for Chinese-style modernization. Second Secretary Li Yuanzheng also participated in the meeting.
The Delegation’s Visit to the University of Nairobi
The Delegation’s Visit to the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi
At the University of Nairobi in Kenya, the delegation held discussions with Professor Francis Mulaa, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, along with heads of relevant faculties and departments and faculty representatives. Both sides had in-depth exchanges of views on collaborative discipline building, faculty research exchanges, and programs for Kenyan students to study in China. After the meeting, Wang Shangxue, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi, guided the delegation on a tour of the Confucius Institute campus, introducing the institute’s development history, teaching and research activities, faculty team, curriculum design, and cultural events.
The Delegation’s Visit to the United Nations Environment Programme
At the United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), Director Liu Jian of the Division of Early Warning and Assessment met with the delegation. Liu Guiqin introduced BUCT’s internationalization strategy and shared her vision for future cooperation. Director Liu Jian provided an overview of UNEP’s work and indicated that both parties would explore in-depth collaboration in areas such as green chemical engineering, carbon reduction, and soil remediation, with expectations for more practical outcomes in the future. The two sides signed a cooperation agreement. Dr. Maarten Kappelle, Director of the Scientific Assessment Branch of the division, and Ms. Quanying (Amber) Ren from the Project Management Department also participated in the meeting.
The Delegation’s Visit to Cairo University
At Cairo University, the delegation held talks with Professor Mohamed Sami Abdel-Sadek, President of the university, along with heads of relevant faculties and faculty representatives. This marked the first exchange between BUCT and Cairo University. Both sides introduced their respective universities’ overall profiles and disciplinary strengths and had in-depth discussions on joint supervision of graduate students, faculty research collaboration, student exchange programs, and summer schools in fields such as chemistry, chemical engineering, and materials science. They also reached a preliminary intention to sign a cooperation agreement.
Beijing University of Chemical Technology Signing a Framework Cooperation Agreement with Badr University in Egypt
At Badr University in Egypt, the delegation met with Professor Ashraf El-Shihy, President of Badr University and former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt; Professor Mahmoud Sobhi, Vice President and Scientific Advisor to the Egyptian President; Professor Mohamed Bassiouny, Vice President; Professor Said Youssef, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and former President of Badr University; and other heads of relevant faculties and departments and faculty representatives. Both sides had in-depth discussions on academic collaboration in specialized fields, dual-degree programs for students studying in China, and summer programs, reaching a consensus on cooperation. President Ashraf Shehhi signed a framework cooperation agreement with BUCT on behalf of Badr University.
The Delegation’s Visit to Chinese Embassy in Egypt
At the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, Consul General Lu Chunsheng received the delegation. Liu Guiqin introduced the background of the visit and the exchanges and cooperation with universities in African countries. Consul General Lu Chunsheng acknowledged BUCT’s achievements in high-quality development and briefed the delegation on the latest progress in China-Egypt educational cooperation, encouraging BUCT to actively expand academic exchanges and collaborative education with Egyptian universities.
The delegation included Wang Youqing, Dean of the College of Information Science and Technology; Yan Hong, Deputy Dean (Acting Dean) of the School of International Education; Yu Le, Deputy Director (Acting Director) of the Office of Planning and Discipline Construction; and Feng Jianghong, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Department.