2ND LUBAN WORKSHOP IN AFRICA LAUNCHED AT MACHAKOS UNIVERSITY.
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On 14th December 2019, the 9th Luban Workshop in Africa was launched at Machakos University. The Vice-Chancellor, Machakos University Prof. Lucy Irungu and her counterpart, Prof. Li Yan from Tianjin Vocational College signed MoU.
The Luban Workshop is an international exchange and cooperation brand initiated by the Government of China to promote vocational technical training around the world. There are already Luban workshops in Djibouti, Egypt, and Pakistan. The Luban project is supported in full by the government of China to enhance the ‘One Belt One Road’ movement which is intended to improve connectivity and cooperation among 78 countries spread across the continents of Asia, Africa and Europe.
During the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on September 3rd 2018, the Chinese President Xi Jinping promised that China will set up 10 Luban Workshops in Africa to offer vocational training for young Africans. Machakos University is privileged to be a host of this workshop.
The Luban Project program which takes the form of a workshop is an avenue for Tianjin Vocational College and Machakos University to have exchange of skills and education resources. The workshops entail engineering training such Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence and Software development skills. The other collaborating partners with Machakos University on Luban project include Huawei Technologies and Konza Technopolis.
It is expected that Luban workshop Programme will enable students to have practical application by the help of Konza Technopolis big Data Center in Kenya, based on Huawei’s fusion sphere cloud computing technology and Data Center Management System (DCM).
Speaking during the launch of the workshop, the Vice Chancellor, Machakos University, Prof.Lucy Irungu, observed that this was a historic event and a necessary collaboration relevant in the 21st Century. Witnessing the event was the CS for ICT Mr Joe Mucheru who lauded the Luban Workshop and said Universities should emulate Machakos University and build such partnerships with other institutions across the world for the benefit of Kenya.
Others present were Eng. John Tanui of Konza Technopolis, the Chairman of Council of Machakos University Prof. Gideon Hanjari and the Chairman of Konza Technopolis, Dr. Reuben Mutiso.
The Chinese delegation included Vice-Chancellor Tianjin Vocational College, Prof. Li Yan, the Minister Counselor of Chinese Embassy in Kenya- Zhao Xiyuan among other guests.
