Today, Kabarak University proudly participated in the virtual Opening Ceremony of the China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (CICSIC) 2025 – Africa Division, marking the official launch of this prestigious global innovation platform. This initiative, deeply rooted in strengthening Sino-African educational ties, aims to ignite the innovative spirit of African youth to shape a shared future.

The virtual event brought together representatives from across Africa, Asia, and Europe, including organizing institutions and student innovators, reaffirming the competition’s global and collaborative spirit. The launch was jointly hosted by Nanjing Agricultural University and Kabarak University, with Egerton University also serving as an organizing partner for the Africa Division. The event was presided over by Prof. Henry Kiplangat, Vice-Chancellor of Kabarak University, and Prof. Liu Yutao, Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute at Egerton University. In attendance were Hon. Prof. Zhu Yan, Vice-President of Nanjing Agricultural University, Mr. Xu Qing, Director of the Higher Education Division, Jiangsu Provincial Department of Education, members of the University Management Board from Kabarak University, the Acting Director of Research Dr. Phillip Nyawere, the Director of Nakuru City Campus, faculty members, and students.

Kabarak University was honored to be co-opted as a key partner in this year’s edition of CICSIC. The opening ceremony highlighted the university’s pivotal role in mobilizing student teams, hosting the online evaluation phase, and forming the judging panel for the Africa Division. As a center of academic excellence grounded in Biblical Christian values, Kabarak University is committed to nurturing innovation, ethical leadership, and impactful research among youth across the continent.

The partnership with Nanjing Agricultural University, established through collaboration in Chinese language education, agricultural research, and talent development, exemplifies the power of cross-continental synergy. This collaboration has already seen over 41 students trained in Chinese language programs, bridging cultures and equipping young minds for global engagement. Anticipated joint research on drought-resistant crops and sustainable farming techniques is also expected to benefit communities across Kenya.

In his address during the ceremony, Dr. Phillip Nyawere, the Acting Director of the Directorate of Research, Innovation & Outreach (RIO), emphasized the importance of global partnerships and cross-cultural learning in addressing Africa’s pressing challenges. He encouraged students to take advantage of this unique opportunity to showcase creativity, originality, and entrepreneurial spirit on a global stage.

Prof. Henry Kiplangat, Vice-Chancellor of Kabarak University, expressed his deepest gratitude to the Ministry of Education of China for entrusting Kabarak University with hosting this pivotal event. He noted that African students have consistently demonstrated remarkable creativity in previous editions of the competition, with teams from the continent claiming one gold medal and six bronze medals in 2023 and 2024—a testament to Africa’s untapped potential. He encouraged students to view the platform not just as a competition, but as a “laboratory for global citizenship”, quoting a Chinese proverb: “When the winds of change blow, some build walls—others build windmills.” He urged participants to “build windmills together.”

The China International College Students’ Innovation Competition (CICSIC) is the largest innovation competition of its kind, having drawn over 40,000 groundbreaking projects and 130,000 talented participants from over 150 countries and regions between 2017 and 2024. The Africa Regional Competition in 2025 aims to promote cross-cultural collaboration, innovation, and entrepreneurship among African university students and to enhance mutual understanding and academic exchange. It encourages students to develop innovative solutions to address regional and global challenges.

The competition is open to African students under the age of 35, specifically those born on or after March 1, 1990. It offers an inclusive platform for collaborative innovation across key sectors, including agriculture, health, environment, and finance, as well as strategic emerging industries. Projects should align closely with societal needs, fostering the development of new products, business models, and services, and promoting the deep integration of digital technologies with various fields. Projects submitted must embody positive values, be authentic, health-conscious, and lawful, with clear and legally valid intellectual property rights or ownership. Plagiarism, unauthorized use of others' work, or submission of false materials will result in immediate disqualification.

Participation is open to teams only, with each team consisting of 2 to 15 members, including the team leader. Cross-university teams are permitted, provided all members are core contributors to the project. All team members must be either on-campus students enrolled in accredited foreign higher education institutions or graduates who completed their studies in the past five years (from 2020 onwards). Projects will be categorized based on the applicant’s academic status (Undergraduate or Postgraduate) and the project’s development progress (Idea Stage or Startup Stage).

The competition unfolds in four phases:

1. Registration: June 1–20, 2025 (00:00 to 24:00 Beijing Time). Teams must register online via PILC’s official website and submit related materials, including a business plan in PPT format, with optional supplementary Word documents or a 1-minute video. All materials should ideally be in Chinese or English. Proof of student or shareholding status for all team members is required.

2. Eligibility Review: June 21–24, 2025. The organizing committee will review submitted materials to ensure completeness and adherence to eligibility requirements.

3. Online Evaluation: June 25–July 5, 2025. Qualified entries will undergo multiple rounds of online evaluation to select participants for the on-site competition.

4. On-site Competition: July 25, 2025, in Nairobi, Kenya. Virtual pitches can be arranged for participants unable to attend in person. Teams advancing to the onsite finals will have their expenses fully covered.

Finalists will be awarded first, second, and third prizes in each category, along with monetary awards and official award certificates. Winning projects will also be recommended for entry into the global China International College Students’ Innovation Competition.

The successful launch sets the stage for robust participation from African institutions, with Kabarak University leading the charge in preparing student teams and ensuring a smooth evaluation process.

For full competition details and registration instructions, visit: https://www.inter.chula.ac.th/news/23473/

As we move forward, Kabarak University remains steadfast in its mission to equip the next generation of innovators with the tools, values, and platforms needed to create meaningful and sustainable change.