Hillary Kipkosgey, Director General of the Kenya Space Agency, led a delegation to Beihang University on October 15, returning to the campus where he studied more than two decades ago.

Vice President Zhao Weisheng met with the delegation at the Ruxin Conference Center, accompanied by heads of the International Relations Department, the Alumni Relations and Development Office, and the School of Electronic and Information Engineering.

Kipkosgey enrolled in 1997 in what was then the Department of Electronic Engineering, now the School of Electronic and Information Engineering. His homecoming fell just before Beihang's 74th anniversary — a coincidence Zhao described as especially meaningful.

Zhao noted that Beihang attaches great importance to educational and scientific cooperation with African countries and has steadily expanded its engagement with the continent in recent years. He hoped that Kipkosgey would serve as a role model for fellow alumni, attracting more talented young Africans to study at Beihang and strengthening ties among the university, Chinese industries, and African partners. He added that Beihang also hopes to establish an alumni association for Africa with his support.

Kipkosgey expressed his gratitude for the warm reception. Reflecting on his years at Beihang, he said the professional knowledge, research training, and international perspective he gained there had laid a solid foundation for his career and continued to benefit him to this day. Returning to campus after more than two decades, he expressed deep pride in witnessing the university's development and achievements. He noted the long-standing friendship between China and Kenya and pledged to keep serving as a bridge between the two sides.

Zhao presented Kipkosgey with a Beihang alumni commemorative badge, while representatives of relevant units handed over his student records and a handwritten letter from his former advisor.

During the visit, Kipkosgey also met with Kenyan students currently studying at Beihang. He encouraged them to make the most of their time at the university, expand their knowledge and sharpen their skills, and build lasting friendships with their peers.

The delegation also toured the Beihang History Museum and the Beijing Air and Space Museum, learning about the university's development and its achievements in aerospace teaching and research.

Beihang and Kenya have maintained long-standing cooperation in space science education, satellite navigation technology and talent development. In 2025, a delegation from the Regional Centre for Space Science and Technology Education in Asia and the Pacific (China), a UN-affiliated centre hosted at Beihang, visited the Kenya Space Agency to discuss international space education and talent cultivation in space science and technology.

Editor: Lyu Xingyun