Higher Education and Training Deputy Minister Nomusa Dube-Ncube has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships in higher education, vocational education and skills development during an official working visit to Xiamen City University in Xiamen, China.
The visit forms part of South Africa’s broader efforts to deepen cooperation with China and expand opportunities for skills development, innovation and academic collaboration that will benefit young people and the country’s growing economy.
During her visit, Deputy minister Dube-Ncube met with the leadership of Xiamen City University to discuss areas of mutual interest and explore ways to strengthen collaboration between the two countries’ higher education institutions.
The discussions focused on key disciplines that are increasingly important to South Africa’s economic development and future workforce.
These include intelligent manufacturing, artificial intelligence, transportation engineering and architectural engineering – all of which have been identified as priority skills areas for the country.
According to the Deputy Minister, these fields align closely with South Africa’s skills development agenda and the need to equip graduates with competencies that support industrialisation, technological advancement and infrastructure development.
The engagement also explored opportunities to establish partnerships between Xiamen City University and South African Universities of Technology, as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges.
Among the proposals discussed were joint training programmes, academic collaboration, and exchange initiatives that would enable students and lecturers from both countries to gain international experience while sharing knowledge and best practices.
Such partnerships are expected to enhance teaching and learning, strengthen research collaboration and expose South African students to emerging technologies and global industry trends.
Dube-Ncube said the visit reflects government’s commitment to translating the strong bilateral relationship between South Africa and China into meaningful programmes that deliver tangible benefits for both countries.
She emphasised that expanding cooperation in higher education and vocational training will contribute to developing the skilled workforce required to support economic growth, innovation and employment creation.
The Deputy Minister added that government remains focused on building partnerships that create opportunities for young people while improving the quality and relevance of education and training.
South Africa and China have maintained longstanding diplomatic and economic relations, with cooperation extending across various sectors, including trade, infrastructure, education and technology.
The latest engagement is expected to further strengthen collaboration in higher education and provide new opportunities for institutions, academics and students from both nations.
Government believes that international partnerships such as these will play an important role in addressing South Africa’s critical skills shortages while preparing graduates for the demands of an increasingly technology-driven global economy.
