Prof Robert Balfour and Dr Jian Zhang. Image: CI SuppliedDuring his recent visit to China, the Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Western Cape (UWC), Prof Robert Balfour, was invited to a high-level meeting by Dr Jian Zhang, Mayor of Jinhua City, to strengthen strategic cooperation in education, innovation, the development of young entrepreneurs, and cultural exchange.
Mayor Zhang warmly welcomed Prof Balfour to Jinhua and commended the long-standing partnership between Jinhua City, Zhejiang Normal University, and the Confucius Institute at UWC. He noted that Jinhua places strong emphasis on international collaboration and expressed the city’s commitment to deepening cooperation with South African institutions.
Mayor Zhang also mentioned that at the end of 2026, the closing ceremony of the “China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges” initiative is planned to be held in Jinhua. “We look forward to welcoming representatives from the University of the Western Cape back to Jinhua to jointly witness the friendship and solid cooperation between China and Africa,” said Mayor Zhang.
Prof Balfour conveyed UWC’s appreciation for the continued support from Jinhua City and highlighted areas of mutual interest, including teacher education, Chinese language and cultural exchange, public health, renewable energy research, and community development initiatives.
Image: CI SuppliedHe emphasised that UWC values its partnership with Zhejiang Normal University and sees great potential for broadening collaborative programmes. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand student and staff exchanges, the development of young entrepreneurs, innovation-driven research cooperation, and city–university collaborations that benefit local communities in both countries.
The meeting also reaffirmed the shared vision of promoting people-to-people connections, advancing global learning, and supporting the development of the Confucius Institute at UWC.
The productive engagement between Prof Balfour and Mayor Zhang marks an essential step in strengthening ties between UWC and Jinhua City, laying a solid foundation for enhanced collaboration in the years ahead.
Board Meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Western Cape
The 5th board meeting of the Confucius Institute at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) was successfully convened at Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU) in Jinhua, China. It brought together senior representatives from Zhejiang Normal University, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University and UWC.
Image: CI SuppliedThe session opened with addresses by the three Rectors, who reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation in Chinese language education, cultural exchange, and academic collaboration. They acknowledged the significant progress made by the Confucius Institute at UWC in recent years and emphasised the importance of continued innovation and joint development.
During the meeting, the board reviewed the 2025 Annual Report, which highlighted achievements in Chinese language teaching, community outreach, scholarship programmes, cultural activities, and expanding academic collaboration. The board also discussed key challenges and opportunities for further strengthening the Institute’s role in promoting multilingual and multicultural understanding.
The board then examined and approved the 2026 Work Plan, which outlines strategic priorities including enhanced teacher training, expanded Chinese Medicine education cooperation, the development of new academic programmes, increased HSK testing capacity, and deeper engagement with local communities and schools in South Africa.
The successful hosting of this meeting marked an important milestone in advancing the collaborative partnership among the three universities. All parties expressed their commitment to working closely together to further advance the mission and impact of the Confucius Institute at UWC in the years ahead.
