Atfrom DANAI MWARUMBWA in Harare, Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe Bureau
HARARE, (CAJ News) – A TOTAL of 31 Zimbabwean scholars have graduated in China under the Future of Africa China-Africa Applied Talents Joint Teaching Programme.
They head home with job-ready skills for Zimbabwe’s industry after graduating from Ningbo Polytechnic University (NBPU), on a programme the institution runs with Harare Polytechnic of Zimbabwe.
As one of the first pilot institutions under the Future of Africa China-Africa Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) cooperation programme, Ningbo has partnered with Harare Polytechnic since 2022, building a pipeline of local talent for Chinese enterprises expanding overseas.
Abigail Shoniwa, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to China, spoke highly of the achievements of China-Zimbabwe cooperation in vocational education.
“By jointly training skilled technical professionals and closely aligning teaching with the real needs of industry, Ningbo Polytechnic University and Harare Polytechnic have supplied Zimbabwe with a cohort of job-ready, locally rooted technical talent,” she said.
Shoniwa expressed hope the two countries would continue to deepen cooperation in vocational education and bring more joint initiatives to fruition.
Wu Xiangpeng, NBPU President, said the certificates recognised the students’ hard work and marked the achievements of China-Zimbabwe cooperation in education and industry-education integration.
“The skills the students acquired in Ningbo will be directly applicable when they return to Zimbabwe,” Xiangpeng said.
Over the years, the two institutions have worked together to train skilled professionals in mechanical and electrical engineering, developing joint curricula, expanding hands-on training and promoting cultural exchange.
Their partnership has also helped build a steady pipeline of technical talent for Zimbabwe.
In May 2026, Ningbo Polytechnic University joined TESC and Huayou Cobalt to launch the Sino-Zimbabwe Engineering Technology Academy and the China-Zimbabwe Silk Road Teacher Capacity Building Centre.
– CAJ News