Thirty-six University of Juba students have benefited from the Chinese Ambassador Scholarship programme, as the Chinese Embassy also donated 116 books to the university to support teaching and learning.
The scholarship beneficiaries come from different colleges, with most studying science-related subjects as well as economics and business. University Vice Chancellor John Apuruot Akec said the programme has continued to provide opportunities for students at the university.
Ma Qiang, the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, said the scholarship has supported more than 100 outstanding yet underprivileged students since its establishment in 2021.
“Students are the future of the country. We sponsor the scholarship in the hope that you can make good use of it and later shoulder your responsibilities to build South Sudan and give back to society,” he said.
The vice chancellor welcomed the continued Chinese support, saying the beneficiaries represent a generation that will carry responsibility for the future of South Sudan.
Prof. Akec said China’s support for the university extends beyond scholarships, citing educational cooperation between the two institutions, including the establishment of the Chinese Culture Center on the university campus in January 2025.
He also highlighted efforts to strengthen language and cultural exchanges, saying the university Senate had approved Chinese as one of the language options alongside Arabic, Swahili and French.
Meanwhile, Lilian Kerlili Hassan, a third-year student in the School of Computer Science and Information Technology who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, said the scholarship would allow students to concentrate on their studies and develop skills that could be used to serve their communities and country.
She urged the beneficiaries to work hard and avoid dropping out, noting that 36 students are benefiting this year compared with more than 48 previously. She said the students should view the scholarship as an opportunity to prepare themselves to contribute to South Sudan’s development.
The donation of 116 books alongside the scholarships adds to the Chinese Embassy’s support for academic activities at the University of Juba, providing additional learning materials for students and the institution.
The Chinese Embassy said it would continue to strengthen educational and cultural exchanges with the University of Juba, encouraging students to learn more about China and participate in exchanges between the two countries.
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