On April 14, 2010, PKFokam Institute of Excellence signed a Joint Education and Academic Cooperation Agreement with Henan University of Technology, P. R. China. The signing ceremony held in the conference hall of the PKFokam Institute of Excellence. By signing the agreement, both universities seek to accomplish the following goals:
provide students with higher education and academic resources of an international standard through the exchange of advanced teaching methods and resources,
provide opportunities for educational and cultural exchanges between the students and teaching and research staff of Henan University of Technology and PKFokam Institute,
positively further the relationship and goodwill between their respective countries
Under the terms of the agreement, both universities commit to jointly establish at PKFokam Institute of Excellence, a Confucius Institute for the teaching of the Chinese language and promotion of Chinese culture and start a double degree program in Food Science and Technology as from September 2010.
According to the operation of this program, PKFokam Institute has to establish, appropriate academic standards consistent with those of Henan University and to recruit students who meet those standards. Students who successfully complete the Freshman and Sophomore years of the program in PKFokam Institute, which will include core courses of the program that do not require heavy laboratory equipment according to a curriculum and teaching plan designed by both parties and a preparatory semester for basic Chinese, will transfer to Henan University of Technology for the Middle and Senior years of the program on condition that the students meet the requirement of Henan University.
Upon successful completion of the senior year and meeting Henan University’s graduation requirement, the student will receive a Bachelor’s degree from Henan University and another from PKFokam Institute. Both degrees will be issued to the students when they return to Cameroon.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Dr. Paul K. Fokam, President and Founder of PKFokam Institute of Excellence, justified the choice of partnership with a Chinese university as strategic by stressing the increasing role of China in the world and stating that Henan University is not only among the top universities in China; but also ranks among world leading universities. Dr. Fokam further stated that the choice of Food Science and Technology falls in line with the PKFokam Institute’s objective to provide low cost, world standard, and relevant education for the purpose of driving the development of Africa. He also emphasized the importance of learning and mastering the Chinese language, which according to him has become an indispensable tool of communication and progress.
For his part, Professor Liu, President of Henan University of Technology, explained that Africa’s growing strategic role in the world has driven his government to take a lead in initiating and deepening ties with African countries. And because Cameroon is a country with tremendous agricultural potential, his university has decided to partner with PKFokam Institute, whose standards and vision mesh perfectly well with those of his institution, to promote knowledge and technology transfer in the area of food science and technology and to foster cultural ties between China and Cameroon. He ended by pointing out that PKFokam Institute was the first African university his institution is partnering with and stressing his commitment to the success of the partnership.
