WINDHOEK, Oct. 28 (Xinhua) -- Namibian and Chinese universities plan to expand vocational training in Namibia through Zheng He College, which is expected to begin enrolling students and offering classes in 2027, a university official said Wednesday.
Zheng He College is a vocational education cooperation platform jointly developed by China's Nantong Vocational University and Namibia's Welwitchia University.
The college, housed in a standalone building in Namibia's capital city of Windhoek, will initially offer programs in mechanical manufacturing and automation, and construction engineering technology in the first quarter of 2027, said Amon Haufiku, director of technical and vocational education and training (TVET) at Welwitchia University.
The formal cooperation framework was established on Nov. 27, 2025, when Welwitchia University, Nantong Vocational University and Nami Prefabricated Housing, a local company, signed a tripartite cooperation agreement to promote technical and vocational education and practical training.
Haufiku said the planned programs at Zheng He College would broaden access to technical training in Namibia.
"This will allow Namibian students to access similar technical training locally, while benefiting from the expertise and experience of our Chinese partners," he said.
"As the partnership develops, we also envision student exchanges that will enable students to study in both Namibia and China, deepening cultural understanding, academic cooperation, and practical skills development."
The initiative follows commitments made during Namibian President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah's state visit to China in July, during which the two countries reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in education, technical skills training and technology.
During the visit, the two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on TVET cooperation to promote exchanges and collaboration between their vocational education institutions. ■