Contestants display their technical skills in Tianjin on Friday during the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference. [Photo/CHINA NEWS SERVICE]

A forum touching upon the prospects of China-Africa vocational education in boosting African development was held in Tianjin on August 20.

The parallel session of the World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference—China-Africa TVET Cooperation Forum was held at the National Convention and Exhibition Center (Tianjin).

The forum gathered 17 representatives of government agencies and vocational education experts from 9 countries in Central Africa, who exchanged views on the prospects of vocational education for young people in Central Africa.

Experts also introduced the effective practices of vocational education to accelerate Africa's development with its demographic dividend.

At present, one fifth of the global population under the age of 25 lives in the fast-growing sub-Saharan Africa. Their mastery of practical skills is expected to power economic development and social transformation.

With the continuous improvement of China's vocational education system, China will provide African countries with a Chinese approach, in terms of advanced experience and fruitful results, to improve the quality of vocational education development.

The forum also issued the "China-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation and Development Research", which summarizes the cooperation experience of China-Africa vocational education, and actively explores new cooperation models to deal with new conditions.

In the future, it is also hoped that vocational education organizations and research institutions in African countries will jointly participate in research, and will provide powerful data and experience references for in-depth cooperation and the exchange of vocational education between China and Africa.

Fang Jun, deputy head of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education of China, said: "As China's first innovative demonstration site of vocational education reform, Tianjin has already established 11 Luban workshops in 10 African countries, including Djibouti, Kenya, Egypt and Ethiopia.”

“15 pairs of partnerships between 13 colleges and universities in China and 11 African countries have been formed, and nearly 300 international students have been recruited. More than 300 African principals and key teachers have been provided with training and practice." Fang added.

"Our exploration is to promote vocational skills training and talent development by reconfiguring the curriculum system and goals. Therefore, young people can prepare for the development opportunities of globalization,” said Adolf Mkenda, Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Tanzania.

“In this process, we sincerely appreciate China for its support and assistance to Tanzania in the field of vocational education. I believe this conference will better promote the relationship between China and Tanzania, and even Africa, in strengthening more in-depth cooperation in vocational skills training." Adolf Mkenda said.

China will continue to promote the high-quality development of China-Africa vocational education cooperation, and jointly build the glorious chapter of the China-Africa vocational education community with a shared future in the new era.（2023.11.21）