Chinese and African partners to jointly establish an institute for excellent engineers

Shanghai-based Tongji University, China Communications Construction Co Ltd, the University of Nairobi in Kenya, and other stakeholders involved in the partnership signed a collaborative agreement to jointly establish the China-Kenya Institute for Excellent Engineers in Beijing on Saturday.

The signing ceremony was attended by China's Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng, who delivered a keynote speech advocating for the creation of internationally recognized engineering education standards, exploring new pathways for engineering education in the digital age, and building an open and inclusive international engineering education network.

Under the agreement, Tongji University will oversee the strategic planning of the college, including admission processes, educational models, and academic accreditation. Partner universities, including the University of Nairobi, Maasai Mara University, and Murang'a University of Technology, will provide the necessary facilities, conduct local student recruitment, and collaborate on teaching and campus management.

Chinese enterprises operating in Kenya involved in the partnership will contribute by offering mentorship teams, industry training positions, and research topics tailored to local engineering and technology needs. They will also establish internships, practical training opportunities, and special scholarships for talent development.

This new institute aims to address challenges, such as disparities in technical standards between China and Africa, the shortage of local engineering talent in Chinese enterprises, and obstacles in cross-cultural collaboration. It seeks to develop new pathways for international engineering education accreditation.

A representative from Tongji University's National College of Elite Engineers said that the new institute will focus on meeting the talent needs of Chinese enterprises in the construction, operation, and management sectors in Kenya. This initiative is expected to provide robust talent support for the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative and enhance China-Africa capacity cooperation.