When Confucianism meets Ubuntu: China’s approach in international collaboration and development in Africa through university partnerships

Abstract

This paper aims to first introduce a series of university linkages coordinated at the national level between Canada and China, then to examine how Chinese universities have applied their earlier learning experiences of development in their new stage of internationalization, playing dynamic role in international collaboration and development through university partnerships with less developing countries, such as those in Africa. As both a recipient and a donor, China has developed a two-way modality for development – learning from such developed countries as Canada and aiding to such developing countries as Kenya. Since the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2000 and with the 20+20 Scheme in 2010, China has been extraordinarily active in international collaboration and development through university partnerships. With some initial findings from a RGC grant on China-Africa University Partnerships (GRF Ref. No.: 842912), this presentation examines the rationale, implementation and initial outcomes of the 20+20 Scheme, with critical reflections on the modality based on paired case studies in both African and Chinese universities. The Chinese model of international collaboration and development is reflected with the comparative lens that locates it against the conventional models used by developed countries on the one hand, and with the historical lens that looks deeply into the Confucian mission of Chinese universities on the world stage. In particular, it reflects on such questions as what approaches to organizing partnership activities may lead to outcomes that are genuinely beneficial both to African institutions involved and to national development needs in their respective countries.