Mount Kenya University (MKU) has signed a trilateral cooperation agreement with Zhejiang Post and Telecommunication College and Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada Information Technology Co., Ltd. aimed at advancing digital education, innovation and vocational training.
The agreement, signed during a ceremony held in China this month, seeks to strengthen collaboration in digital skills development, industry-academia integration and sustainable development initiatives between Africa and China.
Speaking during the ratification ceremony, MKU Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, said the partnership builds on earlier collaboration established with Xinyada in September 2024 and has now evolved into a broader consortium involving several Chinese institutions.
“What began as a partnership between two institutions, has rapidly grown into a consortium of global partners committed to driving digital growth, skills development and innovation across Africa,” said Prof Jaganyi.
Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the institutions will jointly develop digital curricula, vocational and professional standards, talent training programmes, and student and staff exchange initiatives.
The partnership will also support internship opportunities, employment pathways and promotion of the China-Africa Skills Supermarket project as MKU expand its global academic and industry footprint.
A key outcome of the agreement is the establishment of a cloud computing facility at MKU by Xinyada, a move expected to strengthen the University’s ICT infrastructure and position it as a regional hub for cloud technology training and digital innovation.
Prof Jaganyi said the initiative aligns with MKU’s role as the United Nations Academic Impact Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 9 on Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for the 2025–2030 period.
Meanwhile, MKU has also signed another MoU with Suzhou Higher Vocational and Technical School, to introduce drone simulation training, targeting students and professionals in sectors such as security, journalism, agriculture and disaster management.
The programme will equip learners with practical skills in aerial surveillance, drone-assisted reporting, precision agriculture and emergency response.
The Ceremony was attended by Zhang Ying, who highlighted growing cooperation between Chinese vocational institutions and African universities.
MKU said the partnerships reinforce its commitment to digital transformation, internationalisation and preparing future-ready graduates, for the global technology-driven economy.
By Muoki Charles
