Leaders from The National Association of Vocational Education of China Visit Machakos University Luban Workshop
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On Saturday May 11th, 2024, Machakos University had the honor of hosting guests from the National Association of Vocational Education of China at the Luban Workshop. Led by Mr. Wang Sangato, Mr. Noah Zhang, and Ms. Gong Xi, the visit aimed to foster understanding of Luban Workshop’s projects and activities, celebrate its achievements and explore potential collaboration opportunities between the university and the association.
Among dignitaries present were the Vice Chancellor Prof. Joyce Agalo, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Research, Innovation and Linkages, Representative of Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Academics and Student Affairs, the Registrars, Chairman of Computing and Information Technology Department, Coordinator of Luban Workshop Mr. Frankline Mutisya.
Dr. Omuya, in his presentation, highlighted Luban Workshop‘s inception through the Tianjin and Konza partnership and its significant research and training focus areas, including Cloud Computing, Information Security, Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data Analytics and Blockchain.
He also shed light on the ongoing training programs offered by the Department of Computing and Information Technology, emphasizing hands-on learning experiences through sub-sections such as Big Data Analytics, Intelligent IoT Learning and Data Center services.
Other achievements supported by the Luban workshop include ground breaking initiatives like the “Blind Eye” an application that aims to bridge accessibility gaps and enhance the independence of the visually impaired community and Virtual app aiding the Kenyan Defense Force in mental health analysis. It is as a result of the partnership between Machakos University and Tianjin City Vocational College that a number of scholarships have been awarded to students of Machakos University through the Chinese Embassy and the hosting of a UNESCO Chair on Cloud Computing.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor (RIL) underscored the timeliness of the association’s visit, coinciding with a pivotal moment in the evolution of Kenya’s educational landscape. He emphasized the shifting focus towards practical skills, reflecting a broader trend in global education. This sentiment aligns perfectly with the objectives of the Luban Workshop, which prioritizes hands-on learning experiences to prepare students for the demands of the modern workforce.
The Vice-Chancellor extended a warm welcome to the visiting delegation, expressing gratitude for the pivotal role played by the Chinese Embassy in fostering partnerships between the university and various stakeholders. Shee highlighted the transformative potential of these collaborations, particularly in fields such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Big Data and Cloud Computing. The VC emphasized how the state-of-the-art equipment and facilities at the Luban Workshop have empowered students to engage in practical research and innovation, citing how the University has consistently performed at the highest level of the Huawei competitions over the last 3 years and this year 6 students made it to the National finals and 4 are proceedings for the Global Competition to be held in Shenzhen, China from 21st -25th May 2024.
Further, the Vice Chancellor articulated a vision for the future of partnership between Machakos University and the National Association of Vocational Education of China, outlining key areas of collaboration including; exchange programs for both staff and students, industry partnerships to enhance career prospects for graduates, language proficiency initiatives, curriculum development and infrastructure enhancement at the Luban Workshop to establish a center of excellence for Cloud Computing.
The visitors reciprocated with gratitude for the warm reception and expressed interest in expanding Luban Workshop‘s reach through the association, echoing China’s vocational emphasis on employable skills and their desire to forge stronger ties with African institutions. In essence, the visit symbolized a promising step towards international collaboration in education, driven by a shared vision of empowering students with practical skills for societal advancement.