21st September 2025
In a significant step towards strengthening international academic cooperation, the Centre for West African Studies (CWAS) at the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) and the Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology (EBKUST) in Sierra Leone held a high-level virtual meeting on 21st September 2025 to explore a formal partnership.
Originally planned as an in-person engagement, the meeting was successfully conducted via WeChat due to scheduling constraints among senior officials. The UESTC delegation was led by Professor Zhao Shurong, Director of CWAS, while the EBKUST delegation was headed by Reverend Professor Edwin J.J. Momoh, Vice Chancellor and Principal of EBKUST, who also serves as Chairman of the Conference of Vice Chancellors and Principals (CVCP) in Sierra Leone.
Adding depth to the discussion were two Sierra Leonean students currently pursuing postgraduate studies at UESTC: Mr Koroma Abu Bakarr, a PhD candidate in the School of Management and Economics, and Mr Emmanuel Josiah, a master’s student in the School of Public Administration.
Their participation brought valuable student perspectives to the forefront, underscoring the benefits of cross-cultural academic partnerships.
Key Areas of Future Collaboration Identified:
1. Joint research initiatives and co-publications
2. Faculty, researcher, and administrative exchange programmes
3. Student mobility and cultural immersion opportunities
4. Sharing of academic resources and scholarly materials
5. Capacity building through specialised training programmes
During the session, Professor Zhao extended a formal invitation to Professor Momoh to attend the upcoming International Symposium on West African Studies (ISWAS), scheduled for November 2025 in Ghana. Professor Momoh graciously accepted the invitation and requested that official documentation be forwarded in due course.
Currently on an official assignment in China, Professor Momoh expressed strong optimism about the proposed collaboration, reaffirming EBKUST’s commitment to fostering long-term international academic partnerships. Both institutions agreed to initiate the drafting of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to guide their future cooperation.
The meeting concluded with a shared vision of establishing a sustainable and impactful academic alliance, one that will not only strengthen institutional reputations but also empower students, faculty, and researchers across both regions. This evolving partnership is anticipated to serve as a model for broader collaboration between Chinese and West African universities, rooted in mutual respect, academic excellence, and shared growth.
Alimamy Mamoud Larkoh
Assistant Public Relations Officer
Ernest Bai Koroma University of Science and Technology
