Cameroon Embassy signs scholarship deal with Xingtai Polytechnic College

Cameroon's Ambassador, Martin Mpana and the President of Xingtai Polytechnic College, Ma Dongxiao, both look forward to keeping their cooperation going. Photo by Cameroon Embassy in China

The Cameroon Embassy in China and Xingtai Polytechnic College in Heibei Province on October 10 signed a Memorandum Of Understanding to grant scholarships to Cameroonian students in various fields. The Cameroonian Ambassador to China, Martin Mpana, was also made Honorary Professor of Xingtai Polytechnic College at the occasion. The ceremony took place in the Cameroonian Embassy in the Chinese capital, Beijing. 

The document was signed by Ambassador Martin Mpana and the President of Xingtai Polytechnic College, Ma Dongxiao. Also present at the event was Xingtai Polytechnic College Vice President, Li Xianbin, Director, Wei Wei and Vice Director, Wang Yangwei.

The agreement provides for the training of 20 Cameroonian students each year for Diploma programmes (the equivalent of Cameroon’s Higher National Diploma, HND). Students will undertake a year’s study of Chinese language before proceeding to read their courses for two years. Upon completion, they can enter university for two years to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. Meanwhile, the scholarship entails free tuition, accommodation, health insurance, books and a monthly stipend of 1,500 RMB.

Ambassador Martin Mpana congratulated the institution’s officials for massively attending the ceremony, adding that Cameroon and China have for long enjoyed good ties. “Xingtai Polytechnic College by committing to the MOU is fostering ties in the domain of technical education,” he noted. He expressed gratitude to Xingtai Polytechnic College for seeing to the signing of the MOU.

“Cameroon is proud of the MOU for two reasons. It will foster technical training for our students in line with President Paul Biya’s 2035 vision and broaden the scope of Cameroon’s higher education learning. President Biya lays emphasis on youth education and Xingtai Polytechnic College offers most of the specialties desired by Cameroon. These include Business Administration, Art and Media, Finance and Accounting, Fashion and Design, Architecture, Building, Automobile, Chemical, Electrical, Information Technology, and Resource and Environmental Engineering,” he explained.

According to the Cameroonian Ambassador, technical education is needed to tackle economic challenges and poverty reduction. “The Director of Xingtai Polytechnic College, Mr. Wei Wei, worked tirelessly with our Cultural Attaché for Education, Meyof Samuel, to prepare the details of the MOU. I am grateful to Mr. Wei Wei for his efforts,” Martin Mpana said. He expressed hope that the agreement will mark the beginning of long and fruitful cooperation between both sides.

The President of Xingtai Polytechnic College, Ma Dongxiao, also expressed hope that the relationship with the Cameroon Embassy will last long. He said it was their desire to see more Cameroonian students trained in the polytechnic. He commended the Cultural Attaché for Education for taking the initiative to request the MOU, saying negotiations took five months to conclude.

According to Meyof Samuel, the MOU, which takes effect this academic year, is for three years renewable for as long as both parties are satisfied. The Cameroon Ministry of Higher Education advertised the scholarships last June and candidates for this academic year have already been selected. Those qualified to apply are holders of the General Certificate of Education, GCE Advanced Level or its equivalent. Classes begin in September each year. Scholarship applications are forwarded through the Cameroon Ministry of Higher Education and are then processed by the Cultural Service of the Cameroon Embassy in China.

Kimeng Hilton Ndukong, a contributor to People’s Daily Online, is Sub-Editor for World News with Cameroon Tribune bilingual daily newspaper in Cameroon. He is currently a 2017 China-Africa Press Centre, CAPC fellow.