University cooperation boosts African countries' development

The China Association of Higher Education announced that 50 domestic universities have been selected for the China-Africa Universities 100 Cooperation Plan, and 252 have been admitted for the China-Africa University Alliance (CAUA) exchange mechanism, which is another significant move by China to support the development of education in Africa.

China firmly supports Africa's development needs. Under the framework of CAUA, a large number of domestic universities and private institutions have conducted interuniversity cooperation and exchanges with various African universities.

For the African side, it will enhance capacity-building and better align with the needs of their much-needed development. For the Chinese side, it will effectively promote the interactive construction between Chinese universities and foreign partners.

With the proposal of the China-Africa Universities 100 Cooperation Plan, China will further strengthen close cooperation with continental, regional, or professional organizations in Africa such as the African Union, multilateral cooperation with international organizations such as UNESCO and the World Bank, as well as with other countries, and interactive collaboration with key industries and sectors involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.

The university cooperation is expected to promote the intensification of internal resources and the maximization of external benefits, including linking talent, knowledge, and technology between universities and industries to generate synergistic value chain effects, and promote effective flows of knowledge and technology.

A group of Chinese universities specializing in science, engineering, economics and trade are focusing on conducting practical cooperation with African universities in areas such as knowledge flow, technology transfer, and professional talent cultivation to develop leading industries such as the digital economy. A group of universities specializing in humanities and the social sciences will work to deepen the sharing of development concepts and social governance experiences between China and Africa.

-ECONOMIC DAILY