UCT graduates prepare for Beijing

Four UCT postgraduate students have been selected for the competitive postgraduate scholarship programme at the Yenching Academy of Peking University in Beijing, China. The students, all young women, will be completing a Master of Arts in China Studies. The programme seeks to provide students from around the world with a broad interdisciplinary knowledge of China as its role in global affairs continues to grow. The four will leave for Beijing in August.

Nothando Khumalo and Thuthukile Mbanjwa completed their master's degrees in civil engineering in 2014. Both will be doing the economics and management stream in the programme. Both have professional and personal goals for their time in China.

"I hope to merge my knowledge of civil engineering with a better understanding of economics and management, in order to deepen my understanding of the relationship between infrastructure management and economics," says Mbanjwa, who plans to use this opportunity to become a leader in her field.

"As well as the educational opportunity," says Khumalo, "I am excited to be immersed in a completely different culture and build new friendships with a diverse range of people."

Wadeisor Rukato and Sihle Isipho Nontshoweni completed their honours and master?s degrees respectively in political science. Both will pursue the public policy and international relations streams. Wadeisor says she is most looking forward to leaving her comfort zone: "I believe that when people are challenged by discomfort or the unfamiliar, they are given an opportunity to morph into better, more empowered versions of themselves."

Story by Natalie Simon. Photo by Daniel Ng, accessed via Wikimedia Commons.