In order to promote in-depth cultural exchanges between China and Africa, strengthen bilateral cooperation between Liaoning University and the University Cheikh Anta Diop of Dakar (hereinafter referred to as UCAD), and promote the construction and development of the Confucius Institute, an educational delegation from Senegal’s UCAD, led by Vice President Mohamed Bachir Niang, arrived in China on September 7th for a nine-day visit of friendly exchanges.

On September 7th, Professor Yu Miaojie, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Committee and President of Liaoning University, expressed sincere welcome on behalf of Liaoning University to the delegation, along with his hope that through on-site visits and exchanges the delegation members could further deepen their understanding and understanding of Chinese culture and contemporary China, thereby contributing to the localization and development of Chinese language in Senegal and all of Africa. President Yu also expressed his desire that both sides could in the future conduct in-depth cooperation in disciplinary construction, scientific research, talent cultivation, and thus continuously deepen their friendship.

On the morning of September 9th, a symposium for the educational delegation from UCAD, hosted by Qu Yi (Director of the Confucius Institute Affairs Office), was held in Conference Room 206 of the Administration Building on Puhe Campus. Prof. Huo Chunhui, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Committee and also Vice President of Liaoning University, attended the meeting.

Vice President Huo Chunhui began by delivering a welcome speech, pointing out that Liaoning University and UCAD share a solid foundation of friendly cooperation. Back in 2012, the two universities began to cooperate and jointly established a Confucius Institute. Over the past eleven years, Huo stressed, the two sides have worked closely together to build an important platform for students to learn Chinese and understand China. UCAD’s visit at this time to China, and Liaoning University in particular, is of great significance for promoting the development of Chinese language education, strengthening cooperation and exchanges between the two universities, and enhancing the friendship between the Chinese and African people.

Vice President Mohamed Bachir Niang, on behalf of UCAD, noted that Senegal is an important African partner of China. In recent years, Senegal’s regional economy has shown a sustained and rapid growth momentum, becoming an important growth pole for world economic development. Niang emphasized his hope that, through this visit to Liaoning University, both sides can further strengthen communication and cooperation in more disciplines and fields, so as to promote the better development of mutual educational purposes of the two institutions.

Next, Provost Talla Kharouna presented a relevant introduction to UCAD. He informed how UCAD currently boasts six campuses, seven professional schools, 17 libraries, and over 96,000 students. Additionally, the university has five colleges in science and technology, medicine and pharmacy, language and humanities, education and training, legal and political science, as well as 21 university-affiliated research institutions, 10 college-level research institutions, and a total of 658 programs offering undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral degrees. Moreover, UCAD provides quality training for 46 nationalities and is open to global affairs, with 234 active cooperation agreements. As of 2023, UCAD is ranked 21st among the top 200 universities in the African region.

At the meeting, both parties held discussions over school enrollment, teacher recruitment, related fees for students receiving state funding, and student employment. The relevant departments of Liaoning University provided full and detailed response to the questions raised by the UCAD delegation, facilitating the delegation members to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of Liaoning University and education as a whole in China, so as to lay a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two parties.

Vice President Huo Chunhui stated in his concluding remarks that Liaoning University welcomes Senegalese teachers and students to study and participate in exchange programs at Liaoning University, with the hope that UCAD can become one of the important academic destinations for Chinese students studying abroad as well. Expressing his desire that both parties can promote cooperation in technological research and development through exchanges between students and teachers, Prof. Huo noted the prospects of establishing an African research institute at Liaoning University, while also pointing out that, with economics being Liaoning University is a key discipline, his hope that both sides can strengthen exchanges and cooperation in relevant fields and promote their research results. With their combined efforts, the Confucius Institute at UCAD, co-established by both universities, will definitely have more potential.

The meeting was attended by directors and deans from the Teaching Affairs Office, Student Affairs Office, International Exchanges Department, School of Liberal Arts, and School of Foreign Languages.

Visit to a Laboratory for Liberal Arts Students

Visit to the Hall of LNU’s History

Visit to LNU’s History Museum

Visit to Laboratories at the School of Physics 

Visit to a Training Center at the Light Industry School

Visit to the “Sloped” Multifunctional Laboratory