Returned students are determined to succeed online

Many Rwandan students who were enrolled in Chinese universities during the COVID-19 lockdowns are now back home and are studying online. Although they face challenges, they say they are determined to honour their scholarships and complete their studies.

Happiness Uwizeye, who is studying electrical engineering in Beijing Jiaotong University in China’s capital city, was flown home in February by her parents. She is one of nearly 300 students repatriated to Rwanda, according to figures from the diasporan student association in China. There are over 1,200 Rwandan students currently studying in China under that country’s sponsorship.

Uwizeye said the adjustment to online learning has not been easy.

“At first, studying online was hard because students are used to face-to-face learning … We are using Zoom and ClassIn. There is a timetable we follow and lecturers deliver courses. We interact with them and the class work is organised and we do presentations. Exams are also conducted,” she told University World News.

However, the process comes with some challenges, the main one being the 6-hour time difference between Rwanda and China.

“We have to attend morning classes which start at 8am which is 2am in Kigali. That means that we sacrifice our sleep and it is challenging. Sometimes you are sleepy when you need to concentrate,” she said.

“Another challenge is that we are not able at the moment to do practicals or experiments. Sometimes the internet connection is poor and that disrupts learning,” she said.

“But, all in all, we are thankful to the Chinese universities that we are able to continue studies at a distance and despite the lockdown,” she said.

Darlene, who gave her first name only, a mechanical engineering student studying at a university in Guangzhou, is also back in Rwanda pursuing her studies online.

“Figures of people affected by the pandemic were increasing … it was difficult to get food … As university students, we were told we had to start online learning. I talked to my family and we decided that I had to fly back home and study from there to avoid contamination,” said Darlene.

Describing her experience of online learning, she said: “It is very challenging but I have to wake up to study. Sometimes I am up when others go to sleep, to get ready for studies which start at 2am. Online learning is also not easy as there is no longer face-to-face interaction and it is more difficult to understand the English most Chinese lecturers speak, as you are not with them in person,” she said.

Darlene said practicals will still need to be done when physical learning resumes. “Despite the challenges, I have to study hard and attend all course sessions if I am to retain my scholarship,” she said.