The 8th Africa Tech Challenge (ATC), sponsored by AVIC International Holding Corporation (AVIC INTL), a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corporation of China, Ltd. (AVIC) , recently opened at the Technical University of Kenya in Nairobi, capital of Kenya.
Esther Thaara Muoria, Principal Secretary of the State Department for Technical and Vocational Education and Training; Zong Wa, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Education Association for International Exchange; Paul Mwanza Shiundu, Acting Vice-Chancellor of the Technical University of Kenya; officials from technical education and vocational training departments of Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe; and general representatives of AVIC International in Kenya attended the opening ceremony and delivered speeches.
Representatives from participating universities, teams, and partners of the contest attended the opening ceremony both on site or online.
The 8th Africa Tech Challenge (ATC), sponsored by AVIC International, kicks off in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Esther Thaara Muoria gave a speech at the opening ceremony, saying that the contest provides an opportunity for African youth to showcase their skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities in the intersection of science and technology. It also helps Kenya leverage technology to drive change, solve real world problems, and chart a brighter future for all.
Esther Thaara Muoria, principal secretary of the State Department for Technical, Vocational Education and Training, Kenyan Ministry of Education, speaks at the 8th Africa Tech Challenge (ATC) in Nairobi, capital of Kenya. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Zong Wa pointed out that as Sino-African relations deepen, new highlights, new forms, and new breakthroughs will emerge in technical and vocational education cooperation between the two sides. Jointly cultivating high-quality technical and skilled personnel will become a common goal of Sino-African vocational education cooperation.
Zong Wa, deputy secretary-general of the China Education Association for International Exchange, makes a speech. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Jointly held by AVIC INTL, the Kenyan Ministry of Education, and the China Education Association for International Exchange, the competition is an important event focusing on the skill enhancement of African youth under Future of Africa - a project for China-Africa cooperation on vocational education.
A total of 83 teams and 332 students from nine countries, including Kenya, Côte d'Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, participated in the competition in the two categories of CNC lathe competition and mechanical engineering drawing and CAD application design competition.
The CNC lathe competition was held on site in Kenya, while the mechanical engineering drawing and CAD application design competitions were conducted online in the participating countries.
After the competition, winning teams will receive rewards, and individual winners will have the opportunity to receive fully funded scholarships to study in China, or to be recommended for internship or employment.
Since its launch in 2014, the ATC has held seven sessions. As the first offline competition since the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's ATC has expanded its scale and held special activities such as expert exchanges, factory visits, project tours, Chinese cultural experience, and multilateral vocational education forums to enhance its international influence and promote in-depth exchanges between China and Africa.
Furthermore, this competition continues to use digital technology and provide African youth with rich knowledge in the vocational education field free of charge through the AVIC INTL vocational education online platform. By doing so, it helps African countries cultivate high-quality technical personnel, and contributes to the economic development of African societies through vocational education.
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s proposal of principles guiding China’s Africa policy, including sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. Over the past decade, AVIC INTL has adhered to the concept of "teaching people to fish is better than giving them fish," and conducted high-quality engineering projects, technical training, and talent development to support African development.
By hosting the competition, AVIC INTL helps enhance the employment skills of African youth, bring tangible development to local communities in Africa, and create a new model for Chinese companies to fulfill their social responsibilities overseas.
(Executive editor: Xie Yunxiao)
