Title: Catholic University of Congo: an opening of the academic year under the sign of excellence and innovation
The Catholic University of Congo (UCC) marked the start of the 2023-2024 academic year with an opening ceremony marked by solemnity and promises. The event took place this Monday, October 16 in Limete, in the presence of numerous academic and political figures.
The day began with an opening mass celebrated by Mgr Edouard Kisonga, Auxiliary Bishop Emeritus of Kinshasa, in the UCC amphitheater. This religious ceremony placed this new academic year under divine blessing.
Following the mass, an academic session took place, led by Father Léonard Santedi, rector of the university. He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to all the participants and congratulated the professors promoted and appointed full-time. He also highlighted the UCC students who received medals from the President of the Republic, Félix Antoine Tshilombo Tshisekedi, for their innovative inventions. Among them, Mitterand Inanga, a student at UCC, created a discipline bulletin for schools in the Republic, while a group of four students from the Faculty of Economics and Development invented a turbine pump.
In his speech, the rector recalled the founding vision of the UCC, focused on dynamism, enrichment, innovation and discipline. He warmly welcomed the new students and assured them that they had made the right choice in joining this renowned institution of higher learning. He also highlighted the conditions necessary to succeed at UCC, namely determination, rigor and self-sacrifice.
The day ended with an inaugural conference on the theme “Understanding Ubuntu to build a better humanity”, moderated by Professor Prince Kaumba Lufunda, honorary rector of the University of Lubumbashi. This conference explored the notion of Ubuntu, which refers to humanity and fraternity. The term was popularized in South Africa by figures such as Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu, to promote national reconciliation. The speaker emphasized the importance of human communication and mutual admiration to live in harmony and become true human beings.
This opening of the academic year at the Catholic University of Congo thus highlighted the excellence, innovation and human values which are at the heart of this higher education institution. It marks the start of a new year of learning, research and development for UCC students and teachers, in an environment conducive to academic and personal development.
Sources:
– [Article 1 link](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/10/17/universite-catholique-du-congo-une-ouverture-dannee-academique-placed-under-the-sign-of-excellence-et-de-linnovation/)
– [Link article 2](https://fatshimetrie.org/blog/2023/10/17/universite-catholique-du-congo-une-ouverture-dannee-academique-placee-sous-le-signe-de-lexcellence -and-innovation/)