University of the Western Cape (UWC) Social Media Officer Cardré Goliath has returned from China after an intensive, month-long creative and cultural exchange — bringing home first place for her video submission at the prestigious China–Africa Audiovisual Skills Training Programme.
Hosted from 28 October to 25 November at Zhejiang Normal University (ZJNU) in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province, the programme is part of broader China–Africa cooperation initiatives designed to strengthen skills in film, media, and digital storytelling. It features specialised training across content development, audiovisual production, industry policy, AI, VR/AR, drone cinematography, animation, and project incubation. This year’s cohort included 12 African delegates from Sierra Leone, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Cameroon, Botswana, Algeria, Mozambique, and the Central African Republic, as well as international students from ZJNU who collaborated during workshops and cultural activities. Goliath was the only South African participant.
Prof Anesh Singh, Director of Institutional Advancement at UWC, explained that Goliath was selected to attend the programme due to her strong creative abilities, commitment to digital storytelling, and her growing strengths in multimedia at UWC.
“Her first-place award for her video submission is an outstanding achievement and a clear reflection of her talent and professionalism. We are proud of her accomplishment, and the skills and networks she gained will add real value to UWC’s digital media and storytelling work,” said Prof Singh.
Goliath, who expressed her gratitude for being selected for the programme, described the experience as creatively transformative and culturally immersive. “The programme was incredibly enriching. I gained insights into China–Africa cooperation, digital innovation, and new approaches to film, media, AI, VR/AR, and animation. These learnings will directly strengthen our work at UWC,” she said.
A major highlight was visiting Hengdian World Studios — known as China’s Hollywood — where she performed in a short film, fully costumed as a Chinese princess. “One of my favourite cultural experiences was visiting Youbu Ancient Town, where locals prepared a shared communal meal served on a long table seating more than 50 people — a beautiful reflection of community and hospitality,” she said.
The programme also facilitated high-level networking opportunities, with Goliath forming meaningful relationships with academics, filmmakers and audiovisual professionals from across Africa and China. These connections, she noted, open new pathways for collaboration in digital media, storytelling and creative technologies.
Having completed the full programme and returned to South Africa on 28 November, Goliath looks forward to translating her experience into new ideas, partnerships and creative innovation at UWC.
Dr Iris Wu, Director of the Confucius Institute for Chinese Medicine at UWC, said the programme also underscores the deepening relationship between China and South Africa, particularly in the fields of education, culture and digital innovation: “Through initiatives such as the China–Africa Film and Television Training Programme, both countries continue to strengthen people-to-people exchanges, foster mutual understanding, and build platforms for collaborative growth. South Africa’s participation — represented this year solely by Goliath — reflects the ongoing commitment of both nations to advancing shared skills development, cultural dialogue and creative industry cooperation, contributing to the broader vision of the China–Africa partnership.”
