Higher technical education in Africa
The UNESCO-China Funds-in-Trust (CFIT) Project Phase III focuses on higher technical education in Africa and aims to enhance the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to the skill needs for national development.
Key figures
Objectives
Following the successful implementation of CFIT Phase I & II in teacher training, the CFIT III was launched in October 2019 with the signing of an agreement between the People’s Republic of China and UNESCO. The project is being implemented over a five-year period, from 2021 to 2025.
The overall objective of the CFIT III project is to enhance the capacity of higher education institutions (HEIs) to respond to the skill needs for national development by facilitating collaboration between higher education and the industry, enhancing labour market-oriented teaching, and strengthening competence-based learning.
CFIT III covers six countries, namely Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Senegal, United Republic of Tanzania, and Uganda. Direct beneficiaries are HEIs as well as graduate students enrolled in higher technical education programmes. In each country, the project works in partnership with two HEIs, focusing on four key areas:
from labour market analysis, curriculum review, graduate tracer studies by higher education institutions (HEIs) to improve the delivery of technical education
which meets labour market demands, enhances inclusiveness, and promote gender equality
adopted by HEIs to promote competence-based training
strengthened to inform labour market analysis, curriculum review, provision of work-based training opportunities, programme development, assessment reform, and delivery of technical higher education
Impact
The CFIT III project is a transformative initiative that strengthens African higher education institutions (HEIs) to meet labor market demands and foster skilled human capital. It echoes the aspirations of the African Union 2063 Agenda and contributes to global efforts to implement the and the . By advancing labour market-aligned teaching, curriculum reform, and competency-based assessment methods across 12 partner HEIs, CFIT III supports quality higher technical education for Africa’s youth. Working in synergy with Campus Africa, UNESCO’s flagship programme to reinforce Africa’s higher education landscape, CFIT III seeks to bridge skill gaps, promote youth employability, and cultivate inclusive, resilient education systems.
The project equips African youth with essential skills through training workshops, work-based learning, and entrepreneurship initiatives, such as hackathons and innovation challenges. CFIT III also addresses the gender gap in STEM education by promoting women’s leadership and implementing gender-sensitive policies in partner universities while raising awareness of higher technical education among young girls.
Success stories
Testimonies
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Contact us
To learn more to subscribe our project newsletter, contact us at CFIT.HED@unesco.org.
