China-Africa Higher Education Collaboration

 University World News published on 7 August 2025 an article titled "More Oxygen for Africa-China Higher Education Collaboration" by Clemence Manyukwe.

This is a useful summary of China-Africa higher education collaboration.  About 81,000 African students have studied in Chinese universities over the past two decades and current enrollment exceeds 50,000 students.  Chinese universities have established formal partnerships with over 350 African universities in 54 countries.  There are 61 Confucius Institutes and 48 Confucius Classrooms across Africa.  

Challenges to Higher Education in Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight published on 30 August 2025 a commentary titled "Education Under Siege in Ethiopia" by Aemro Worku, former lecturer at Injibara University.

COVID-19, periodic conflict and insecurity, and regional educational differences have done serious damage to higher education in Ethiopia.  

China-Africa Science and Technology Collaboration

 Springer published in 2024 an open access book titled "China-Africa Science, Technology and Innovation Collaboration" edited by Mammo Muchie, Angathevar Baskaran, and Mingfeng Tang.

The book is based on papers presented at a conference with the same title sponsored by the Chinese embassy in South Africa.  About half of the authors are Chinese.  The preface comments that "Africa must also learn from the great success China has achieved.  There is a lesson Africa must learn how China managed to deal with and respond to external powers." 

The chapters cover the following sectors:

--China-Africa Collaboration to Higher Education.

--China-Africa Research Collaboration and Training.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Agriculture, Food Security and Environmental Management.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Telecommunications and Space.

--Evolution of China-Africa Collaboration in Science, Technology and Innovation.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Digital Technologies.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Finance and Renewable Energy.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Health Sector.

--China-Africa Collaboration in Manufacturing.

China-Africa: Higher Education and Soft Power

 Nature published on 6 June 2024 an article titled "The Road to Soft Power Starts on Campus" by Rachel Nuwer, a freelance writer based in New York City.

In 2006, just 2 percent of China's international students came from Africa; by 2018, that percentage had risen to nearly 17 percent.  In 2018, the last year statistics are available, more that 80,000 Africans were enrolled in higher education in China.  Only France attracted more African students that year.

COVID-19 resulted in a reduction of African students in China due to the country's strict lockdown policies.  China has recently revived the scholarship program for Africans.  The article suggests that African students have had mixed experiences during their time in China.   

China and India Offer Different Higher Education Cooperation for Africans

 University World News - Africa Edition published on 5 October 2023 an article titled "Beyond BRICS: The Shaping of New Development Narratives" by Kudzai Mashininga.  

At the BRICS summit in South Africa last August, China, India, and Russia demonstrated different narratives for engaging with Africa.  China and India offered a competing model for development while Russia is trying to fill power vacuums.

In the case of higher education. Xi Jinping announced a Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development to complement its other higher education programs.  Narendra Modi said Indian universities are establishing campuses in Africa, increasing scholarships, and deploying training teams to the continent.  

Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement

 The Collectif pour le Renouveau Africain (CORA or Collective for African Renewal) published in October 2023 a 313 page report titled "Shaping the Future of Africa-China Engagement" edited by Folashade Soule.  

Written from an African perspective, the report's goal is to engage both scholars and African policymakers to rethink how the Africa-China relationship can be better rebalanced in order to address its inherent structural asymmetries and benefit Africa more.  It consists of 8 contributions (6 in English and 2 in French) that investigate how Africa-China relations impact the political economy of African states, and how both governmental and non-governmental African actors organize and benefit or not from these relationships.

The report is structured around the following four thematic topics: (1) enhancing governance frameworks in Africa-China relations; (2) strengthening local agency in Africa-China negotiations; (3) redefining labor norms and practices in Africa-China projects; and (4) reinforcing societal issues in Africa-China governmental engagement.  

It contains the following contributions:

--The Digital Silk Road and Emerging African Data Governance Frameworks: Evidence from Egypt by Tin Hinane el Kadi, London School of Economics

--People-Centered Engagement: Ghanaians' Perspectives on Ghana-China Security Relations by Sulley Ibrahim, Conflict Research Network West Africa

--Limited Local Agency? Local Community Benefits and Challenges in Chinese Funded Infrastructure Projects in Kenya by Oscar Otele, University of Nairobi

--Kambele: Une Exploitation Miniere Camerounaise a Visage Chinois? by Nya Mbessa Merlin Brice, University of Yaounde

--Chinese Miners, Community Resistance and Collaboration in Ghana by Isaac Odoom, Carleton University

--Twyford Ceramics: Un Capitalisme Chinois en Afrique? - Position Paper by Ibrahima Niang, University of Cheikh Anta Diop

--(Re-)Defining the Role of the African University in Africa-China Relations by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University

--A Case of Several Asymmetries: Integrating Racial Questions into Africa-China Governmental Relations by Runako Celina, Black Livity China

Perceptions of China by Nigerian University Students

 The Journal of Eastern European and Central Asian Research published in September 2023 an article titled "Rethinking China: Perceptions from Africa a Survey of Nigerian University Students" by Nurettin Can, Sanar Muhyaddin, Ahmet Arabaci, Ibrahim Koncak, and Ibrahim Keles.  

The article looks at the sources from which 602 students in Nigerian universities receive information about China and solicits their opinions on several issues.  The internet and social media are the primary source of information about China.  The students are generally neutral on the responsible behavior of China as a global power, positive about China as a development model, and concerned about the influx of Chinese labor in Nigeria.  

France, China, and US Top Destination in 2020 for African Students

 The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace published on 13 July 2023 a commentary titled "What Are the Top Global Destinations for Higher Education for African Students?" by Zainab Usman and Aline Abayo.  

The commentary includes a chart of the top 20 destinations of African students for post-secondary education outside their countries in 2020.  France leads with 126,000 African students, followed by China with 81,500 students and the United States with 48,000 students.  

Comment:  This was the first year of COVID-19.  The student numbers for 2021 and 2022 will likely be lower for all countries, especially China, which experienced a more severe pandemic shutdown.  

Russia's Soft Power in Africa

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published on 18 May 2022 a commentary titled "The Charm of Anti-Westernism: Russia's Soft Power in Africa" by Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti.

Russia's anti-Western policies and rhetoric appeal to some African leaders.  Others find Russia an attractive provider of political and security services.  The second Russia-Africa summit scheduled for November will be a good test of Russian appeal to African countries.  

Russia Looks to Africa, But Challenges Increase

 Pan African Visions published on 16 May 2022 a commentary titled "What Could Take Russia Forward in Africa" by Kester Kenn Klomegah.

Russia is stepping up its efforts to seek influence in Africa as Western sanctions increasingly impact Moscow.  But Russia has limited economic interaction with Africa and needs to face new practical realities if its efforts are to succeed.  Russia's invasion of Ukraine has only increased the obstacles.

Russia's Soft Power in Africa

 The South African Institute of International Affairs published on 28 March 2022 a study titled "Russia's Soft-power Sources in Africa" by Eleonora Tafuro Ambrosetti.  

The author concluded that Russia's common cultural sources of soft power in the West do not seem particularly influential in Africa.  Russia's political values, however, (multilateralism, anti-imperialism and non-interference) are particularly well received by policymakers in the Global South.  Russia's allure in Africa is based on its image as a global player that can stand up to the West.  

Comment:  If anti-imperialism and non-interference are valued in the Global South, Russia's invasion of Ukraine would seem to undermine both values.  

Scholarships Driving China's Soft Power in Africa

The South China Morning Post published on 28 September 2019 an article titled "Scholarship Offers Driving China's Soft-power Play in Africa" by Jevans Nyabiage.

In 2018, the Chinese education ministry reported that more than 81,000 African students were studying in Chinese higher education institutions, many of them on scholarship. This was considerably more than were studying in the United States or the United Kingdom. This is China's way of reaching Africa's next generation of consumers and opinion leaders.

University Diplomacy: China-Taiwan Competition in Africa

Asia Dialogue posted on 23 August 2019 a commentary titled "Beijing's Rise and Taiwan's Decline in Africa: What Does the African University Tell Us?" by Abdul-Gafar Tobi Oshodi, Lagos State University.

The author cites the increase in China's collaboration with African universities and the reduction of Taiwan's collaboration to make the point that Taiwan's influence in the continent continues to decline.

Sino-African Education Cooperation

Asia Dialogue published on 29 August 2019 an article titled "Sino-African Education Cooperation: From the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to the Belt and Road Initiative" by Kenneth King, University of Edinburgh.

This analysis discusses China's plans in recent years to increase educational cooperation with Africa, but says little about how much cooperation has actually occurred.

Does China Offer Lessons for Africa's Higher Education Systems?

University World News posted on 14 December 2018 an article titled "Research Universities--Lessons for Africa from China" by Nico Cloete and Francois van Schalkwyk.

African universities can learn "massification" of the higher education system from China but it must meet African societal values, which poses a major challenge.

African Universities Need to Improve China Expertise

University World News Africa Edition published on 22 September 2018 a commentary titled "African Universities Need Their Own China Expertise" by Ross Anthony, director of the Centre for Chinese Studies at Stellenbosch University.

The author argues that Africa is a no man's land of China scholarship, which allows the government of China an opportunity to structure the discourse to its advantage by denying visas to certain African scholars who want to do research in China.

The Africa Competitiveness Report 2017

The World Economic Forum has published "The Africa Competitiveness Report 2017: Addressing Africa's Demographic Dividend."

The report highlights areas requiring policy action and investment to ensure that Africa lays a solid foundation for sustained inclusive growth. It discusses the barriers and challenges to putting Africa's economies onto a solid footing and helping them to achieve sustainable, broad-based growth, taking into account rapid demographic changes. The strong economic performance of a number of African countries demonstrates Africa's resilience and brings optimism about Africa's future growth prospects. The report includes detailed discussions of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Ethiopia, but not any other country in the Horn of Africa.

China-Africa Cooperation in Higher Education

Times Higher Education published on 21 April 2016 an article titled "What Chinese Investment Means for African Higher Education" by Ellie Bothwell.

The article discusses the current state of China-Africa cooperation in higher education and research. It concludes the relationship is largely positive.

China's Higher Education Engagement with Africa

International Development Policy published in 2014 an article titled "China's Higher Education Engagement with Africa: A Different Partnership and Cooperation Model?" by Kenneth King, University of Edinburgh.

The article examines China's investment in human resources in Africa, especially in higher education, through several programs including long- and short-term training of Africans in  China, Confucius Institutes, stand-alone projects and the 20+20 scheme for higher education cooperation between China and Africa.

Higher Education in Somalia

The Mogadishu-based independent research organization, the Heritage Institute for Policy Studies, published in August 2013 a major study titled "The State of Higher Eduction in Somalia: Privatization, Rapid Growth, and the Need for Regulation."  This is the most extensive analysis of this topic since 1991.