The ATUPA International Conference, held in Accra, Ghana, was a success. Themed “TVET for Skills Development, Mobility and Resilient Economies in Africa,” the Conference drew participants, keynote speakers and paper presenters from across Africa, namely: Ethiopia, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Conakry, Kenya, Lesotho, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. Amongst the participants were students attending and presenting projects in the contest at the 5thPan-African Youth Forum, which took place at the sidelines of the main Conference .Also happening alongside the ATUPA Conference, was the second China-Africa TVET Cooperation Conference(CATCC).

This Conference is testament to the growing interest in TVET activities across Africa, by establishments outside Africa. It also reinforces the commitment of the People’s Republic of China to build working relationships and linkages between their enterprises and TVET institutions in Africa, under the stewardship of ATUPA. Present at the CATCC Conference were: Mr. Zong Wa, Deputy Secretary General, China Education Association for International Exchange, CEAIE; Dr. Liu Yufeng, Senior Programme Specialist, Higher Education Section, UNESCO; Ms. Zhang Junqing, Senior Programme Director, Department of TVET and Professional Training, CEAIE; Prof. Laila  Abubakar, ATUPA Executive Board Chairperson and Vice-Chancellor, Technical University of Mombasa, Kenya; Mrs. Jahou Samba Faal (Dr. Hc),Secretary-General, ATUPA; Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, Chairman, Local Organizing Committee for the 2023 ATUPA Conference and Vice-Chancellor, Ho Technical University, Ghana; Rev. Prof. John F. Eshun, ATUPA Representative for Technical Universities and Vice-Chancellor, Takoradi Technical University, Ghana; and Prof. Amevi Acakpovi, Ag.Vice-Chancellor, Accra Technical University. The CATCC activities included keynote speeches, case sharing sessions and panel discussions, which revolved around the revitalisation of TVET in Africa.

Participants were urged totake advantage of all available opportunities at the Conference to deepen skills acquisition for socio-economic development. Representing the CEAIE Secretary-General Mr. Yu Yunfeng, Mr. Wa observed that China values the importance of international collaborations, hence the trust between China and Africa and the many years of dedicated efforts have yielded fruits in both parties. For this reason, he said, China plans new initiatives to support Africa, andin their bucket list is the training of some 500 administrators and teachers in Chinese and TVET areas. Mr. Wa also reported that China runs the largest and most diverse TVET educational programmes and has enrolled many TVET students, including Africans, on over 600 online courses, and in support of the Africa Union blueprint, the Agenda 2063, would focus their energies to empower young African students and graduates with the necessary skills. Mr. Wa used his country as a case study, adding that70% of China’s new man power are graduates of TVET programmes, not only for national development, but as an alternative career choice for young learners. He cited digital transformation as a vital driver of TVET, and emphasised the partnership with ATUPA as a conduit for sharing their best practice.