The Deputy Vice-Chancellor Corporate Services, Dr. Robert Martin recently represented the University of Venda (UNIVEN) during the award of the Plaque of University of Venda Green Technology Confucius Institute at the conference centre of Beijing Language and Cultural University. UNIVEN was invited by the Chinese International Education Foundation to receive a plaque to establish the University of Venda Green Technology Confucious Institute (GTCI). The event took place on 27 September 2023.
In his address, Dr. Martin said “It is indeed a great honour and privilege for me to give a short address at this auspicious occasion on behalf of the University of Venda Vice-
Chancellor and Principal, Prof Bernard Nthambeleni. I sincerely hope that our participation today in this momentous event reflects our deep commitment to fostering cultural exchange, education, and understanding between our nations”. “We as a university are also most appreciative of the invitation extended to us by the Chinese International Education Foundation to be awarded the Plaque of University of Venda Green Technology Confucius Institute, and I am today a proud representative of the University of Venda, the hosting institution, newly authorised to establish a Confucius Institute in the Limpopo Province, South Africa”, said Dr. Martin. He further alluded that the Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Prof Nthambeleni, has requested him to also pass on UNIVEN’s sincere gratitude to the President of Hubei University of Technology, Prof Feng Zheng, and the Vice President, Prof Song
Xiaochun for ensuring the excellent commitment, cooperation, and coordination from the Department of International Relations and Partnerships team and Hubei University
of Technology. “We will also be well positioned to significantly contribute towards the UN Sustainable Development Goals on behalf of both China and South Africa, and we hope that these contributions will also spill over for the benefit of the African region via the African Union Agenda 2063 goals”, he said. He further said that the GTCI at UNIVEN is not
just an institution of language education; it embodies the essence of cross-cultural enlightenment.
In his concluding remarks, he said “On behalf of the University of Venda I want to give you the assurance that the establishment and operation of the Green Technology
Confucius Institute at the University of Venda will be a success. We have already ensured that the appropriate resources are made available to ensure that the Institute
becomes operational as soon as possible”. The Universities of Venda and Hubei University of Technology started their engagements in 2019 and this relationship has developed into a strong partnership which culminated in the signing of a MoU between the two institutions on 06 November 2022. The University of Venda Green Technology Confucius Institute was one of the 26 approved projects announced by President Xi Jinping during the recent BRICS S.A. summit and is the seventh Confucius Institute to be established in South Africa.
Issued by: Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 / 8710
Date: 12 October 2023
