Tech initiative empowering students through innovation
By Cynthia Atuo, July 31, 2025Over time, education priorities, particularly for students, seem to have taken a different course.
Unlike in the past when joining a university was deemed prestigious and the key to success, today, young people are more inclined towards gaining practical skills, even if it means going to a local institution.
It’s all about the skills one is bringing to the table, what it translates to financially, and what solutions it holds.
And as Kenya continues to produce hundreds of thousands of students each year who transition to higher learning, this year has witnessed a notable difference.
Access jobs
In the past four consecutive years, TVET admissions outnumbered university placements.
Data from the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) reveals that this year, out of the more than 200,000 students who qualified for university admission, 173,098 opted for TVETs, with many citing a preference for skills and growth rather than degrees.
“The Kenyan government is keen on ensuring that the youth are trained to be empowered so that they are able to access jobs and participate in the economic development,’’ said John Tuwei Director, TVET-Projects and Partnership, State Department for TVET and Ministry of Education, during the launch of the tenth edition of the Africa Tech Challenge in Nairobi.
In line with this, the Ministry of Education, in partnership with the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), and AVIC Innovation Holding Limited (AVIC INNO), have launched an initiative aimed at empowering students with technical and practical skills in technology.
The initiative, Africa Tech Challenge, which is on its tenth season and hosted at the Technical University of Kenya has attracted 142 teams), 568 participants, from 12 African countries, including Cameroon, Côte d’ Ivoire, Egypt, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Senegal, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and host nation Kenya.
This year, the event will cover three categories, including CNC turning, Mechanical Engineering CAD, and Mobile App Development, where participants will showcase their skills and innovations, under its long-standing theme; “Dream and Invent Your Future.”
Prior to the competition, participants will complete around five weeks of intensive training delivered by Chinese vocational instructors using advanced software and equipment.
Upon completing the program, they will receive certificates of completion.
Winning teams will be awarded training opportunities in China for the WorldSkills Competition, while outstanding individuals will receive full scholarships for further studies in China.
Tuwei emphasised that Kenya is a strategic location for the challenge as the country has witnessed significant growth of the TVET sector over the past 15 years.
“Our collaboration with the Chinese government is on the development of the TVET sector through equipping our training centres across the country, and this is very key. The long-term vision behind ATC is that first we equip them with the skill, and after that we innovate and then commercialise the outputs of the TVET training, that is entrepreneurship,’’ he observed.
Further, he noted that the showcase of young people’s innovations can be applied to spur economic growth and industrialisation not only in Kenya but across Africa.
Growing collaboration
An Yan, Deputy Secretary-General of CEAIE, acknowledged the growing collaboration in technical education, and hailed the initiative’s long-term impact, noting that ‘it is a testament to the power of global partnerships in shaping the future of vocational education.’’
To enhance participants’ skills and broaden their perspectives, past seasons of ATC have included factory visits, cultural experiences, and youth exchange activities. Similar initiatives are planned for this season.
“We believe in empowering young people with practical skills to help them realise their dreams and contribute to Africa’s development,” said Wang Runlan, President of AVIC International Project Engineering Company.
Tuwei observed that through this collaboration, China, through Exim Bank, has supported a number of initiatives in terms of modernising equipment in the learning institutions.
“I urge the government to focus on industrialisation because that is where young Kenyans can get opportunities and skills,’’ emphasised Andrea Lentaya, a mechanical engineering student at TUK, who is also taking part in ATC.