The hosting of the UNESCO dialogue on education and cultural cooperation which was recently held in Beijing was a resounding success. this has resulted in the recent launch of the China-Africa Regional Development Centre for “Chinese + TVET” which is a collaborative effort between the Durban University of Technology (DUT), the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation (under China’s Ministry of Education) and the Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU).
Representatives from the three partner institutions, including Yu Yunfeng, Director of the Centre for Language Education and Cooperation, Dr Nkosinathi Sishi, Director-General of South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training and Lan Siren, President of FAFU, attended the unveiling ceremony to officially establish the centre.
The newly created China-Africa Regional Development Centre for “Chinese + TVET” is designed to serve Africa by advancing international Chinese language education and vocational training. It aims to build a forward-looking platform that integrates Chinese language learning with technical and vocational education and training (TVET), offering students new opportunities for employability and entrepreneurship. The centre’s primary focus is on nurturing individuals who are both proficient in Chinese and skilled in vocational trades, while also strengthening cooperation between China and Southern African nations in vocational education and skills development.
Since its establishment in March 2013, the DUT Confucius Institute, operated in partnership with FAFU, has been dedicated to meeting South Africa’s growing demand for Chinese language and cultural exchange programmes. The award winning DUT Confucius Institute (CI) has made significant strides in promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and South Africa, while reinforcing educational and cultural bonds between the two countries. To date, the DUT Confucius Institute has forged strong partnerships with South African universities, schools, government entities and Chinese enterprises, with more than 11000 registered students and over 230000 participants in community activities from both South African and Chinese communities.
Additionally, the DUT CI has created opportunities for a number of high achieving students to study in China or to intern with Chinese companies and has facilitated over 400 academic, cultural and artistic exchanges involving scholars, educators, researchers, language learners and artists from both nations. source-DUT
