Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has been awarded an honorary professorship by the Beijing Jiaotong University in China.
The awarding of the professorship is in recognition of his contributions to education, and is a symbol of strengthening ties between South Africa and China.
In his acceptance speech, Nzimande said he was deeply honoured and grateful for the honour bestowed upon him by such a prestigious institution.
“Professor YU Zujun, President of Beijing Jiaotong University and dear colleagues, it is with the greatest humility, cognisant of the significance of the award, and with gratitude for China’s friendship and support throughout my career, that I am privileged to accept the honorary professorship.
“This award is further evidence of the enduring friendship between South Africa and China, a strategic partnership in which the Beijing Jiaotong University could play an even more important role that I am determined to help facilitate,” Nzimande said.
The Minister said the university is a model of excellence in collaboration and innovation. This is demonstrated by the success in combining its capacities in transport systems, information and communication technologies, as well as the economics and management sciences, to support China’s progress in the development of one of the world’s leading rail networks for both passenger and freight transport.
“I am also eager to learn about Beijing Jiaotong University’s success in combining advanced scientific research and post-graduate programmes, undergraduate studies, as well as vocational training in a holistic manner.”
Over the past 120 years, the Beijing Jiaotong University has developed a comprehensive and coordinated education system, with strength disciplines in information and management, characteristic disciplines in transportation, and other diversified disciplines, including engineering, management, economics, science, liberal arts, law and philosophy.
The university's position in international rankings of world-leading universities and disciplines is steadily on the rise, maintaining its position in the top 500 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU).
Currently, the university has 16 888 undergraduate students, 2 763 Doctoral students, 9 933 Master's students, and 3 389 adult college students. The total number of international exchange students amounts to 1 142.
The Departments of Higher Education and Training, and Science and Innovation have congratulated the Minister on his conferral of the honorary professorship. – SAnews.gov.za
