The University of Liberia (UL) is benefiting from a donation containing several boxes of state-of-the-art printing and cutting machines and equipment that would be used to set up a functioning printing press at the university.
The donation was made by Changsha University of Science and Technology in the People’s Republic of China and delivered by the Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, H.E. YIN Chengwu, to the Administration of the UL at its Fendall campus on Tuesday, Oct. 29.
Ambassador Chengwu said the donation was the latest achievement of cooperation between Changsha University of Science and Technology and the University of Liberia, and marks a concrete manifestation of friendship between China and Liberia in the field of education.
Following the donation ceremony, the UL Administration and the Chinese Ambassador and entourage participated in a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a multi-purpose building to host the printing press.
In 2019, the UL Administration made a formal request for support for the establishment of a University Printing Press to the Administration of Changsha University in China. The request was then approved and accepted, but processing and delivery of the equipment was delayed due to the prevalence of the coronavirus pandemic which started in 2019.
The equipment comprised giant-sized cutting paper machines, high speed multi-color printers, laminating machines, greasing machines, binding machines, office usage machines, supporting consumer boxes and accessories, among others.
Ambassador Chengwu said the printing equipment would enhance quality teaching and learning at the University of Liberia. “I believe these printing equipment will facilitate the UL in teaching, administration, and help students for better study,” Amb. Chengwu said.
He said “China and Liberia have carried out a series of mutual corporations that culminated in the awarding of several grants and aids mainly in the areas of education, technical, infrastructure, social and economic.”
Chengwu named the construction of the UL Fendall campus, the awarding of several scholarships to Liberian students to study in China and return to contribute to the country’s development agenda, and expressed optimism that the effective usage of those equipment will yield the needed results of acquiring quality teaching and learning. For his part, UL Acting President, Dr. Al Hassan Conteh, thanked Ambassador Chengwu and the Changsha University for the donation.
“We sincerely appreciate your gesture of friendship not only as a donation but as a sign of Changsha’s belief in the mission of the University of Liberia to elevate higher education in our nation,” Dr. Conteh said.
He said such contribution helps build the foundation upon which students can achieve excellence and reinforce the bond between the two institutions united in a common goal, saying the donation to the UL mission of promoting quality research, teaching and learning.
“This donation of printing materials significantly boosts our infrastructures and capabilities and enables us to enhance our research, teaching and learning experiences,” Dr. Conteh said.
Dr. Conteh said that the printing machines will facilitate the production of high-quality educational materials to provide excellence in education.
