Higher technical education in Africa

The China Funds-in-Trust (CFIT) Phase III: Higher technical education in Africa for a technical and innovative workforce was initiated with the signing of an agreement between the People’s Republic of China and UNESCO in October 2019. The overall objective of the project is to enhance the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to the skill needs for national development by facilitating collaboration between higher education and the industry, enhancing labor market-oriented teaching, and strengthening competence-based learning.

CFIT Phase III covers six countries, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda, and direct beneficiaries include higher education institutions as well as graduate students enrolled in higher technical education programmes.

Expected outcomes

• Effective utilization of information from labour market analysis, curriculum review, graduate tracer studies by HEIs to improve the delivery of technical education;
• Quality and relevance of the curriculum and programmes improved in HEIs, which meets labour market demands, enhances inclusiveness, and promote gender equality;
• Improved assessment methods adopted by HEIs to promote competence-based training;
• Cooperation between HEIs and private sector stakeholders strengthened to inform labour market analysis, curriculum review, provision of work-based training opportunities, programme development, assessment reform, and delivery of technical higher education.