Moroke Sekoboto
THE National University of Lesotho (NUL) has sent 11 students from the Faculty of Agriculture (Animal Science and Agricultural Economics), Health Science (Nutrition), Science and Technology (Biotechnology), and Social Sciences (Economics) to pursue three-year master’s degrees at Jilin Agricultural University in China.
Jilin Agricultural University is a key partner in the establishment of the Confucius Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology at NUL.
Speaking at the Chinese language and culture training send-off ceremony for the students on Thursday, NUL Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Olusola Fajana, said the Confucius Institute had made tremendous progress since its approval in 2024.
He noted that from language teaching to cultural exchange, agricultural research, and technological innovation, the Institute has steadily expanded its scope and impact.
“Today, we celebrate another chapter in this journey as our students prepare to immerse themselves in the rich cultural heritage and academic excellence of China. The Chinese rich cultural heritage is confirmed in the testimony of our people who have benefited from opportunities extended to them to visit and engage with the Chinese,” Prof Fajana said.
“To our students, I offer my warmest congratulations. This experience will be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for you to learn from one of the world’s oldest and most vibrant civilizations. As you engage with Chinese culture, language, and academia, I encourage you to be open-minded, curious, and enthusiastic. Make the most of this experience, build lasting relationships, and bring back knowledge and insights that will benefit our community.”
Also speaking at the ceremony, Chinese Embassy Counsellor, Mr Lu Hui, said the programme, titled – New Words on the Silk Road, Cultivating Clouds and Sowing the Moon – was more than a retracing of ancient trade routes. It represented new momentum in the corridor of global connection.
Mr Hui said the students were not merely studying history but were actively weaving new threads into the enduring tapestry of mutual learning and people-to-people ties between China and Lesotho.
“Secondly, my warm congratulations to the 11 NUL graduates who have been awarded the Silk Road Scholarship this year and will soon leave for China to commence their postgraduate studies. I heard that you have been learning Chinese for a while.
“There is an ancient Chinese saying: ‘The sea of learning is boundless. Only perseverance is the vessel to reach the shore’. Mastering Mandarin may be the first challenge in your academic journey in China. However, I believe that you will not only master the Chinese language but also excel in all your academic pursuits there.
“Because you are not merely studying for your own benefit. The journeys you are about to embark on — Animal Science, Agricultural Economics, and Food Science — are crucial to Lesotho’s development. I am firmly convinced that you are all driven by a steadfast commitment to dedicating your acquired expertise to the advancement of Lesotho,” Mr Hui said.
He highlighted that 2025 marks not only the 80th anniversary of the National University of Lesotho but also the 80th anniversary of a monumental victory in human history — the triumph of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, and the global victory in the World Anti-Fascist War.
“The 80th anniversary of this historic victory is an opportunity to call for upholding the values of peace, cooperation, and mutual respect that underpin today’s international order. Especially at a time when the world faces new challenges, it is vital to draw lessons from the past for the future.”
He added that strengthening people-to-people exchanges to promote mutual understanding and respect was an integral part of this process.
“The Chinese Embassy will continue to support educational and cultural exchanges between our two nations, cultivating a new generation of bridge-builders to sustain the friendship between China and Lesotho for generations.”
For his part, the Director of the Confucius Institute, Moeketsi Ntakatsane, said the Institute provided NUL students with a valuable platform to access study, research, and exchange opportunities in China.
“If the Confucius Institute was not here, they would not be able to realise such opportunities. We decided to send students to study Food Science in China because we don’t have such a programme at NUL. Yet, Food Science is one of the key disciplines needed in this country, as we are an agricultural nation that relies heavily on food production,” Dr Ntakatsane said.