On October 25, the overseas edition of People's Daily highlighted international education cooperation, featuring in its "Learning Skills in China" special the story of NJUIT's South African student Luo Wanzi and her journey at Nanjing University of Industry Technology. This young woman, who harbors a passion for engineering, traveled across oceans through a China-South Africa education cooperation program and achieved the leap from theory to practice in China.
In 2023, Luo Wanzi came to NJUIT as a South African government-sponsored student to study Mechatronics. "My dream is to turn engineering concepts on paper into machines that solve real problems," she said. Her previous work experience at a Chinese engineering enterprise in South Africa had given her a profound appreciation for the value of applied technology and strengthened her resolve to pursue further studies in China.
During her studies in Nanjing, Luo Wanzi systematically acquired skills in programmable control and CNC machining, and participated in multiple practical projects. Among these, designing a "watercress harvester" stands out as a particularly memorable experience. While conducting research in Changzhou, Jiangsu, she witnessed the hardship of farmers harvesting watercress by hand in cold water, which inspired her to develop automated equipment. Confronted with challenges in software operation, she practiced repeatedly under the guidance of her Chinese mentor and eventually turned her design into reality.
Cultural differences initially posed challenges for Luo Wanzi in adapting to life in China, yet the care of her teachers and classmates quickly helped her bridge the gap. Outside the classroom, school-organized activities such as Mid-Autumn Festival and Chinese New Year celebrations, along with calligraphy experiences and marathons, allowed her to experience the charm of Chinese culture. At Nanjing's Confucius Temple, she was amazed by the smooth operation of an automatic ice cream robot: "This is the power of technology!"
Luo Wanzi has now graduated successfully, with a clear and steadfast career plan: "I hope to become an engineering teacher and transform knowledge into a force that changes lives." She intends to bring the skills she learned in China back to South Africa and cultivate more local technical professionals.
Luo Wanzi's story is a vivid illustration of China-South Africa education cooperation. From power projects in South Africa to training workshops in China, she has demonstrated through her actions that technology knows no borders and education has warmth. Going forward, this young South African woman will continue to write her engineering life with technology as her pen.
中文原标题：设计“豆瓣菜收割机”最让我自豪——我校南非留学生罗婉姊事迹被《人民日报》报道
10月25日，人民日报海外版聚焦跨国教育合作，《我在中国学技能》专版报道了我校南非留学生罗婉姊在南京工业职业技术大学的成长故事。这位怀揣工程梦想的青年，通过中南教育合作项目跨越山海，在中国实现了从理论到实践的跨越。
2023年，罗婉姊作为南非政府公派生，进入南京工业职业技术大学机电一体化技术专业学习。“我的理想是让图纸上的工程概念变成解决问题的机器。”她坦言，此前在南非中国工程企业的工作经历，让她深刻体会到技术落地的价值，也坚定了来中国深造的决心。
在宁求学期间，罗婉姊系统掌握了程序控制、数控加工等技能，并参与了多个实践项目。其中，设计“豆瓣菜收割机”的经历让她尤为难忘。在江苏常州调研时，她目睹了农民在冷水中手工收割的艰辛，萌生了研发自动化设备的想法。面对软件操作难题，她在中国导师的指导下反复练习，最终将设计变为现实。
文化差异曾是罗婉姊适应中国生活的挑战，但老师和同学们的关怀让她迅速跨越隔阂。课余生活中，学校组织的庆中秋、贺新春等活动，以及书法体验、马拉松等，让她感受到中国文化的魅力。在南京夫子庙，一台自动冰激凌机器人的流畅操作更让她惊叹：“这就是技术的力量！”
如今，罗婉姊已顺利毕业，她的职业规划清晰而坚定：“我希望成为一名工程学老师，把知识转化为改变生活的力量。”她计划将在中国学到的技术带回南非，培养更多本土技术人才。
罗婉姊的故事，是中南教育合作的生动缩影。从南非的电力项目到中国的实训车间，她用行动证明：技术无国界，教育有温度。未来，这位南非姑娘将继续以技术为笔，书写属于她的工程人生。
