Namibia Deepens International TVET Partnerships Through China and South Africa Agreements

Namibia Deepens International TVET Partnerships Through China and South Africa AAgreements. Namibia has strengthened its international technical and vocational education and training (TVET) partnerships through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with institutions from China and South Africa.

The agreements were signed with Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada Information Technology Co., Ltd. of the People’s Republic of China and ORBIT TVET College of South Africa. Further collaboration is also intended with Hunan Industry Polytechnic in China.

The partnerships are a key outcome of the NEV TVET Hub, an initiative involving Nakayale Vocational Training Centre, Eenhana Vocational Training Centre and Valombola Vocational Training Centre.

The initiative has focused on developing strategic partnerships to support the digitalisation, modernisation and internationalisation of TVET in Namibia.

Through the partnerships, the institutions aim to explore opportunities in curriculum development and benchmarking, trainer and trainee exchanges, research and innovation, entrepreneurship development, skills competitions and exposure to emerging technologies.

These technologies include artificial intelligence, robotics, programming, electronics and digital innovation.

The NEV TVET Hub brings together vocational training centres with areas of specialisation that include information and communications technology, electronics and automotive technology. The platform is intended to support collaboration, resource sharing, specialisation and institutional development.

Speaking at the signing ceremony in Windhoek, NTA CEO Erick Fundula Nenghwanya highlighted the need for TVET institutions to respond quickly to changes in the world of work.

“The question before us is therefore not whether TVET should change, but whether it can change and modernise quickly enough to prepare our young people for opportunities that are already emerging,” he said.