THE 2016 TRAINING PROGRAMME OF EDUCATION FOR AUC OFFICIALS CONCLUDES

Tianjin, China, 23rd March 2016 – The training programme which was sponsored by the Ministry of Education of the Peoples’ Republic of China and organized by Tianjin University of Technology and Education (TUTE) has concluded with the reiteration of China’s commitment to assist Africa to develop and fulfill its aspirations towards Agenda 2063.

In her closing remarks, Professor Liu Xin, the President of TUTE, appreciated the commitment and active participation of the AUC officials in the training program. She expressed her gratitude to the cooperation between the African Union Commission (AUC) and TUTE and said they are expecting more officials to come and learn from the experience in the first higher vocational and technical university in China.

“We are looking at an Africa that uses science and technology in Agriculture for increased production to become the food granary of the world.” said the representative of the AUC participants Mr. Lowole Madalitso Mvuso in the closing ceremony. He further underlined that “We have come to know that China has excess manufacturing capacities, has well developed vocational schools and Africa on the other hand in need of the same which then cements further the need for increased cooperation for the success of the existing strategic partnerships”.

During the training program, officials from the African Union Commission (AUC) had lectures in different topics related to education in China such as the Management System of the Higher Education in China, presented by Prof. Meng Qingguo, Employment and Vocational Guidance, presented by Prof. Zhang Yuan, Chinese Profile, presented by Prof. Duan Zhouwu, The Present Situation and Challenges of Chinese Higher Education, presented by Prof. Qing Liang where participants learnt about the quantitative characteristics of Chinese regular higher education institutions as well as the 985 and 221 projects and special funds to support the development of local colleges and universities.

With a lot of interest AUC Officials had a lecture with Ambassador Xie Xiaoyan, Former China Ambassador to Ethiopia, on “China-Africa Economic Cooperation”. Rich statistics were provided by H.E. Ambassador Xie Xiaoyan about the growth rate of China GDP and domestic consumption and future economic prospects. Information regarding China’s investment in Africa was presented and it has been agreed that more focus should be given to investment in agriculture in Africa as now China investment is only 3.1%. In their different interventions, participants from AUC confirmed that China always adhere to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith in Africa. The role of China in developing our continent Africa with openness and inclusion and the win-win cooperation has been appreciated. Participants showed commitment to advocate for more cooperation with China and to improve Africa’s business environment to attract investors from China and all over the world.

International students perusing their education in Tianjin University of Technology and Education (TUTE) performed Chinese songs and activities at the closing ceremony of the training. It is worth mentioning that students from the following member states are currently enrolled in TUTE: Côte d'Ivoire, Nigeria, and Sudan. Africa should look for more opportunities for other countries with such prestigious institution.

The opportunities for investment are vast. Areas for cooperation include industrialization, peace and security, agriculture modernization, infrastructure, green development, financial services, poverty reduction, public health and welfare, and trade and investment facilitation.

We are confident that Africa has the capability to realize her full potential in development, culture and peace and to establish flourishing inclusive and prosperous societies.

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#GAAK

NOTES TO THE EDITOR:

Project 211:
Project 211 is the Chinese government's new endeavor aimed at strengthening about 100 institutions of higher education and key disciplinary areas as a national priority for the 21st century.
The implementation of Project 211 is an important measure taken by the Chinese government in its effort to facilitate the development of higher education in the context of the country's advancement in social and economic fields. Primarily aiming at training high-level professional manpower to implement the national strategy for social and economic development, the project has great significance in improving higher education, accelerating the national economic progress, pushing forward the development of science, technology and culture, enhancing China’s overall capacity and international competitiveness, and laying the foundation of training high- level professional manpower mainly within the educational institutions at home.
During the 9th Five - Year Plan period (1996-2000), the government of China initiated actions to strengthen a number of institutions of higher learning and key disciplinary areas. After several years' efforts some l00 institutions of higher learning and a group of key disciplinary areas have greatly improved their quality of education, scientific research, management and institutional efficiency. In addition, these institutions also have made remarkable progress in reforming the management system and consequently become the bases for training high-level professional manpower and solving major problems for the country's economic construction and social development. As a result of such efforts, this group of institutions set up national standards in overall quality, with some of the key universities and disciplinary areas approaching or reaching the advanced international standards. The majority of them have enhanced their physical conditions and staff competence, in addition to noticeable achievements in human resources training and scientific research. Adapting to regional and sectional development needs, these institutions are playing a key and exemplary role.

Project 985:
Project 985 is a constructive project for founding world-class universities in the 21st century conducted by the government of the People’s Republic of China. On May 4, 1998, President Jiang Zemin declared that “China must have a number of first-rate universities of international advanced level”, so Project 985 was launched. In the initial phase, 9 universities were included in the project. The second phase, launched in 2004, expanded the program until it has now reached thirty-nine universities. The central government invested a total of RMB32.9 billion in special funds for phase I (1999-2001) and phase II (2004-2007) of the project, assisting thirty-nine universities. After the establishment of the 985 Project, the international competitiveness and internationalization level of its participating institutions were significantly increased; there were improvements in their technological innovation capacity; and their leading position in China's higher education system was further consolidated.

List of Universities in Project 985 (Total: 39)
Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing Normal University, Beihang University (formerly Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics), Central South University, Central University for Nationalities, China Agricultural University, Chongqing University, Dalian University of Technology, Fudan University, Harbin Institute of Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Hunan University, Jilin University, Lanzhou University, Nanjing University, Nankai University, National University of Defense Technology, Northeastern University, Northwest A&F University, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Ocean University of China, Peking University, Renmin University of China, Shandong University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Sichuan University, South China University of Technology, Southeast University, Sun Yat-sen University, Tianjin University, Tongji University, Tsinghua University, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, University of Science and Technology of China, Wuhan University, Xiamen University, Xian Jiaotong University, Zhejiang University, East China Normal University.

For Media inquiries contact: Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar| gamalk@africa-union.org

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