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Chinese scholarship programme open for Namibians


A CHINESE scholarship programme for Namibian students for the year 2023/24 has opened.

According to the Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund (NSFAF), scholarship applications are closing on 26 January.

“The deadline for submitting hard copy applications with supporting documents, and online applications is 26 January 2023 at the NSFAF’s head office,” the NSFAF’s website says.

Those who wish to apply can visit the fund’s website.

Scholarship beneficiary Saara Shipanga says studying abroad gives one the opportunity to understand people from different cultural backgrounds.

Shipanga, who is currently working as a procurement officer at the Ministry of Mines and Energy says she studied civil engineering at Nantong University in China.

“When you study abroad the first thing you may notice is the many differences between people. Yes, I would definitely recommend people to do the same.

“People should always remember where they come from and why they are there,” she says.

Secilia Shitumbeni, who studied at Nantong University for four years, says Chinese culture has given her a different perspective on life.

“I definitely recommend studying there. Do research about the school, and you can always get other opportunities to study further when you are already there.

“When you are in China, go out there, observe and learn how people do things, be it business or health wise, and take up as much space as you can,” she says.

Shitumbeni says challenges include that some universities are not recognised or registered with the Namibia Qualifications Authority.

“I truly have seen or observed that sometimes the government or whoever sponsors the scholarships doesn’t do proper research on the universities.

“A lot of people face challenges finding proper jobs, because their qualifications are overlooked by most companies and the industry in general,” she says.

Shitumbeni currently works as a site engineer at a Chinese company in Namibia, called Sanli Construction CC.

“Most of us only get opportunities at Chinese companies,” she says.

Another beneficiary who asked to remain anonymous and did construction engineering technology at Nantong Vocational University says his time in China was a success.

“Yes, it had its drawbacks, and in particular because I was ignorant in the first few weeks, but after that I began to understand China and its people. I began to love it more.

“During my three years of studies there, I gained a lot of academic knowledge. Lecturers were engaging and participatory. We were all able to consider subjective issues and draw conclusions from them,” he says.

“They should spend some time studying Mandarin, China’s lengthy history, as well as its poetry, art, and literature,” he says.





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