Higher technical education project launched for implementation
The China Funds-in-Trust Project Phase III: Higher Technical Education in Africa for a Technical and Innovative Workforce (CFIT III), is officially launched for implementation in Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda.
“This project responds to urgent challenges – youth unemployment and underemployment, a skills mismatch and technological disruption. It is an effort to empower youth, the backbone of national sustainable development, through higher technical education”, stated Ms. Stefania Giannini, Assistant Director-General for Education, at the Project Launch Meeting held on 4 October.
Building on the progress achieved in the project formulation and inception phase, the Meeting brought together over 90 participants, including the national focal points, project coordinators, experts, key stakeholder and development partners in higher technical education, to plan for the project implementation.
During the meeting, the twelve project coordinators from partner universities presented their institutional work plans. Experts and specialists present reviewed the work plans and offered advice on enhancing industry-university partnerships in professional skills training.
H.E. Mr YANG Jin, Ambassador and Permanent Delegate of China to UNESCO congratulated the national teams for the progress achieved so far and expressed his expectations. “It is our sincere hope that this project will continue to adhere to the principles of country ownership, multi-stakeholder participation, and effective coordination among the headquarters, regional offices and beneficiary countries, and make positive contribution to the educational, social and economic development of the project countries and to the implementation of the 2030 sustainable development goals at large.”
Dr. Tristan McCowan, Professor of International Education at Institute of Education of University College London gave a keynote speech on higher education and employability for sustainable development. He highlighted the normative and ethical dimensions of employability in enhancing higher technical education with a broader view of civic preparation for all graduates in dealing with complex, multisectoral, contested and anthropogenic issues of sustainable development.
“Underpinning project is a vision for inclusive, equitable, and prosperous societies. Higher education and skills development will give impetus to sustainable development,” said Ms. Stefania Giannini at the meeting.
With the completion of 12 workplans, the CFIT project will officially enter into implementation in November 2021.