Two graduations in 18 days. On Saturday, 20 May I graduated from St George’s University (SGU) Grenada with a BSc Sociology. I missed the actual event because I am currently on a journalism exchange in Beijing, China.
BSc Sociology certificate from St George’s University (SGU) Grenada. Photo: SGU/Parchment
I am part of the China-Latin America and the Caribbean Press Centre (CLACPC) of the 2023 China International Press Communication Centre (CIPCC) Programme. Last Wednesday, 7 June, I received a Certificate of Completion from the School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), Renmin University of China (RUC), at the Closing Ceremony of the China Development Studies and Media Exchange. I am armed with a better understanding of China, and the Chinese path to modernisation from the media perspective. in great part due to this programme. The lectures were on Poverty reduction, China’s dual-circulation model, Development Communication and Constructive Journalism, Technology driven content production evolution with Chinese media, and People’s Democracy in China. The majority of the thought-provoking lectures were presented by Professors at Renmin University.
I spent my last SGU semester in Beijing, juggling both programmes, waking up on Thursdays at 3:30 am for a 4 am class. Due to natural time travel—how else to explain this? [insert laugh]—the same class was 12 hours behind, i.e., Wednesday, 4 pm. I had a foot in 2 time zones. It was tiring and disconcerting on occasion, but in the end, I got through.
I am thrilled that I jumped at the opportunity to participate in the China CIPCC programme. This allowed me to complete my BSc online, while expanding my horizons and learning more about myself and the human experience. Over the past 3 months, I have toured companies in Beijing’s districts of Chaoyang, Fengtai, Haidian, Pinggu, Shijingshan and Shunyi, and travelled by train and plane to Hunan, Shanghai and Shaanxi. I have seen technology applied to agriculture, architecture, culture and heritage, communication and transport, and have been impressed and humbled by the use of innovation and tech to essentially make life better for China’s 1.4 billion people.
Certificate of Completion, School of Journalism and Communication (SJC), Renmin University of China. Photo: SLCT
China’s willingness to share its accomplishments and lessons learned with other developing countries towards global stability is nothing short of amazing and philanthropic.
This Sunday, 11 June, I will head to the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau for a week with the Caribbean and non-ASEAN Asia-Pacific Press Centres. On 15 June, we will attend the opening ceremony of the 3rd China (Qinghai) International Ecological Expo, and, later, the Harmonious Coexistence with River Source 2023 International Exchange and Cooperation Forum on Eco-civilisation. Given that the Caribbean is at risk of the current climate crisis, conversations on eco-civilisation are necessary, so I am pleased to participate in a China Global Television Network (CGTN) panel on cooperation for eco-civilisation.
Frankly, I am thrilled to be so close to Tibet, and I am looking forward to the whole experience of a week at an average elevation of 4,000 metres above sea level, the roof of the world, and putting both my certificates to work.