By Wanjiku Mbugua

On Tuesday, March 26, our Confucius classroom students debuted in the qualifying round of the highly coveted Chinese Bridge Competition at the Confucius Institute at the University of Nairobi.

Chinese Bridge Competition is an international contest for foreign students on their mastery of the Chinese language, promoted by the Center for Language and Education Cooperation in China and established as a plan to introduce Chinese to the world. The Centre for Language Education and Cooperation is an organization under the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China tasked with providing Chinese language and cultural teaching resources and services worldwide. It is commonly referred to as the Hanban, the colloquial abbreviation for the Office of Chinese Language Council International also known as Confucius Institute Headquarters.

During the qualifying round, USIU-Africa presented four (4) students who competed in the university level of the non-Confucius category. Our students scooped the top three (3) positions and the fourth student scooped the outstanding student award. Austin Wachira, Joan Chepkirui, Mariamu Rajabu were in position one, two and three respectively while Irene Aruka was recognized as the outstanding student.

At the local final scheduled for May 14, our students will be up against students of Chinese from Strathmore University and Confucius Institutes at the University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, Moi University and Egerton University.