Recently, the Confucius Institute at DUT in South Africa actively took in new ideas of vocational education reform from China and made efforts to integrate the ideas into local communities in South Africa. By strengthening cooperation with local Chinese enterprises and establishing a “Chinese Plus” vocational skills training base, the Confucius Institute at DUT provided multiple job and communication opportunities for Chinese learners and cultivated multi-skilled technological talents.

Participating in the World of Work (WOW) Careers Fair

The grand two-day 2019 recruitment fair was held at the Riston campus of Durban University of Technology between August 14th and August 15th. 175 enterprises and institutions from South Africa, American, Singapore and China and more than 700 representatives from renowned enterprises and companies were invited to the job fair, attracting more than 10,000 job seekers.  

Job seekers Waiting for the Fair to Open

Thulas Nxesi, Minister for Labor and Employment Relations of South Africa, was invited to attend the WOW recruitment fair. He then visited the Confucius Institute at DUT and the display boards of Chinese enterprises. Minister Thulas Nxesi appreciated highly the innovative mode of “Chinese Plus”vocational skills cultivation plans.

  Minister Thulas Nxesi (second from left) Listening to Introduction of VocationalTalents Cultivation Plans

Confucius Institute at DUT invited Chinese enterprises such as Bank of China (Durban Branch), BONA Food and GOLF to the WOW job fair. China Ocean Shipping Group, Sunfree, Value Co and other well-known enterprises have recruited  talents who are professional both in skills and Chinese at the job fair.

Sandile Bonginkosi Sibiya (Chinese name “Cheng Gong”, 成功), an intern at BONA Food with Chinese learning experience, came to the job fair as a company representative. Taking his own experience as an example, Sandile Bonginkosi Sibiya suggested job seekers to seize the opportunity to improve their competitiveness in the workplace, and answered their questions at the same time.

Outstanding Chinese learner Sandile Bonginkosi Sibiya Answering Questions from Job Seekers

This is the second intensive participation in the WOW job fair since the Confucius Institute at DUT first introduced Chinese enterprises to the WOW job fair in 2018. It has won more job opportunities and resources for Chinese learners from Africa. In addition, it attracted more social job seekers to know about Confucius Institute at DUT.

Stepping up the Construction of Luban Workshop in South Africa

On August 5, 2019 (local time) in South Africa, with the assistance of Confucius Institute at DUT, Shen Jiang, Chair of the University Council of Tianjin Vocational University, and Tandwa Mtenbu, President of Durban University of Technology, signed a formal Memorandum of Understanding on the co-construction of Luban Workshop in South Africa. The two sides have both confirmed their willingness to establish the Luban workshop in the Republic of South Africa and they will continuously make joint efforts to advance the construction of the Luban workshop. After that, the delegation had a comprehensive knowledge about the strength of Durban University of Technology in running the school, and they evaluated the location and surroundings of the workshop. In the end, the two sides reached an agreement on the construction site and cooperative fields.

 Signing Ceremony between Tianjin Vocational University and Durban University of Technology

Negotiations on Details of Luban Workshop

On August 2, Shen Jiang and Yang Rongmin, vice president of Tianjin Vocational University, shared their experience in vocational education at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Durban. They respectively introduced the condition of vocational education in Tianjin Vocational University and the achievements and experience of the reform and development of Chinese vocational education. The sharing session was presided by Fei Mingxing, Consul General of China in Durban.

Vice President Yang Rongmin reporting the development of vocational education

Correspondant/Photogragher: Confucius Institute

Translator: Chen Xiaoyan, International College

Revision: Huang Fafeng, International College