Illustration: Liu Rui/GT

The move by the Chinese government to change the country's research culture is already paying off.

As is the case with many developing countries, China had previously put much of its energy in building state-of-the-art research institutions and universities, and very little in human resources.

This has had a negative impact over the years as researchers moved abroad in search of greener pastures.

But as the Chinese government continues to place scientific academics at the forefront as a development issue, the benefits have been almost immediate.

China has certainly been able to reduce brain drain as scientists remain in their home country due to the attractive packages made possible by the significant investment in science and technology.

Scientists staying home and undertaking high quality research is a plus for research institutes as well as universities in China. Experts are already predicting the significant impact that this will have on Africa.

For decades, Africa's science students, keen to study abroad but could not afford to attend universities in the West, only had one real option left - to travel to India.

Many were only able to travel to the West on scholarships, but over the years there have been fewer and fewer scholarship opportunities.

The Chinese have built a name in Africa due to their expertise in technology ranging from building roads to the household appliances used across the continent.

The recent digital television shift taking place across Africa brought to the fore the technology made in China. Much of the technology to facilitate the transition process and human capital came from China.

This means that African students will certainly see China as the most practical study destination.

A significant majority of young Africans, unable to find employment, are turning to computer science in the hope that they can grow their own small business enterprises.

But there exists a significant knowledge gap that can be filled when students in Africa are able to travel and study in a country that produces most of the hardware that they use.

Research is already showing that computer science does not solely attract urban youth but African rural youth too. Unfortunately, there are not enough opportunities for the students to advance their skills.

African students studying in China can bring home two benefits.

They can use the knowledge to build their own enterprises since the vast bulk of unemployed people in Africa are young adults.

Young people can themselves contribute to human resources in general, which is attractive to local research institutions and universities.

A new breed of young African scientists can transform African problems into solutions by tailoring their research to the needs of a developing continent.

There are possible benefits of studying in a developing country as opposed to a developed one.

Knowledge is tailored to speak to the needs of the developing country, which means that an African student studying in China can easily relate since China was not so long ago in the same position of underdevelopment as some African countries. Science remains an attractive field to African students, and many believe it holds the tools to fully exploit Africa's potential, just as China has done with its own.

The author is a Kenya-based journalist. opinion@globaltimes.com.cn Follow us on Twitter @GTopinion