Machakos County, Kenya – The China-Africa Digital Learning Center was officially launched at the Open University of Kenya in Konza Technopolis, Machakos County. This initiative marks a significant step in strengthening Sino-African collaboration in digital education and fostering knowledge-sharing across borders.
Speaking at the event, Elijah Omwenga, Vice-Chancellor of the Open University of Kenya, described the launch as “a milestone in Sino-Africa collaboration in the field of education.” He highlighted the key objectives of the partnership, stating, “The collaboration has four areas of focus, one of which is to host the Open Learning Center and the China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education.” He added, “Further, it will include aspects of staff capacity building, development of both academic and non-academic programs, co-offering of the programs among other activities of mutual interest.”
The event marked the launch of two key facilities: the China-Africa Regional Cooperation Center for Digital Education and the Open Learning Center. These institutions aim to enhance academic and non-academic programs, facilitate capacity building for educators, and expand access to digital learning resources for students in Africa and beyond.
Zhao Mingwei, Director of the International Cooperation Office at Donghua University, emphasized the importance of the initiative in fostering cross-border learning. “The launch of the digital learning center reaffirmed the vitality of Sino-Africa cooperation in the field of education and skills development,” he said. “We anticipate joint online programs that will break geographical barriers and enable students and educators from both sides to share knowledge and experiences.” He further expressed optimism about developing innovative courses tailored to the growing demand for skilled professionals in digital industries. “We would love to build a wide variety of innovative courses and programs which will ultimately benefit the huge human resource training needs of relevant industries, thus promoting original economic development,” he added.
Wang Xiangxu, Deputy Dean of the College of International Education at the Open University of China, highlighted the importance of digital education for young people. “Cutting-edge courses will be offered at the pioneer digital learning center in Kenya, upskilling the youth and broadening their worldview,” he said. “We are confident that these centers will play an instrumental role in guiding and demonstrating the potential of China-Africa educational cooperation, helping us to promote a more practical and in-depth partnership in digital education.”
Carolyne Omulando, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the Open University of Kenya, noted that the partnership would create more educational opportunities for learners worldwide. “The collaboration will enable many people across Kenya and the globe to access education,” she said. “Through the collaboration, the Open University of Kenya will get an opportunity to learn from its Chinese counterpart, building growth avenues, hosting large groups of students, as well as course facilitation.” Looking ahead, she expressed confidence in the long-term success of the initiative. “We hope within the next five years we will have accomplished a number of things like the establishment of the centers and capacity-building for our staff.”
