New Laboratory

Like all challenges in life, the first steps were difficult. When they first arrived in Kenya, the Chinese professors not only needed to overcome difficulties associated with Kenya's relatively undeveloped teaching and research conditions, but also had to adapt themselves to local weather and living conditions as soon as possible.

The first task they faced was to build a modern, biological technology laboratory for Egerton. According to Wu, the laboratory was important to improve the university's scientific research ability and strengthen students' practical skills to go with their theoretical learning. The Chinese Government provided 6 million Kenya Shillings ($75,600)  in financial support. But establishing a sound laboratory involves a lot more than just spending money. To make the laboratory more suitable for education, Wu had to engage himself in every detail, from scrutinizing all equipment in the laboratory to maintaining it once established.

"Sub-standard products will not only affect the normal operation of the laboratory, but also mar the Chinese people's credibility," Wu told ChinAfrica. 

Garden of knowledge 

Another landmark achievement in the two universities' cooperation was the establishment of the China-Kenya Gardening Technology Cooperation Center.

Before leaving China, these Chinese professors planned to teach advanced agriculture technology to local people. But with the sharp contrast in climate and soil conditions between two countries, technologies that can be used in China may not be applicable in Kenya. Keeping this in mind, they carried out on-the-spot researches on local soil conditions before teaching the technologies to locals, analyzing them and then coming up with a feasible plan.

To better solve the dilemmas, they decided to build a farming technology cooperation center. The center introduced two key technologies: greenhouse production which protects crops, such as vegetables and flowers, from suffering in volatile temperature changes; and drip irrigation, which functions as an effective water saver and guarantees the plants receive enough water.

With its low cost and simplicity, greenhouse technology has become popular in Kenya: in the space of 10 years, its coverage in Kenya has gone from zero to 133 hectares.

The year 2002 marked the completion of the official China-Kenya Higher Education Cooperation Program. But the two universities decided to continue the project on their own. "It [the project] was proved to be so successful that our two universities did not want to stop the cooperation," said Wu.

Under the program, a total of 11 teachers from Egerton University had been trained by NYU since 2002, including James Tuitoek, now President of Egerton University. In 2005, the two universities signed a new memorandum of cooperation, following the old one in 1997.

NAU also appointed another two experienced professors, Wu Qinsheng and Liu Gaoqiong, to work in Egerton, teaching classes, conducting researches with other teachers and maintaining the laboratory. 

Perhaps the cooperation between these two universities offers a perfect model for Sino-African relations: an encouraging sign that successful cooperation can be fostered not only by politicians, but by people in all walks of life.