IPRC Musanze, Chinese institute renew skills development partnership

Integrated Polytechnic Regional Centre (IPRC) Musanze and China’s Zhejiang Province-based Jinhua Polytechnic on Sunday signed a five-year partnership meant to boost skills development and capacity building. The ceremony to renew the deal, which was started in 2016, took place at IPRC Musanze campus. Rwanda has been partnering with Jinhua Polytechnic since 2013. Eng. Emile Abayisenga, the IPRC Musanze Principal, told The New Times that in the last three years there has been exchange and knowledge transfer, which has significantly enhanced the development of the school and quality of education. “Four lecturers from China came here to assist and coach ours. We have also sent to China three lectures for three and six-month training as part of the partnership,” he added. The Secretary of Discipline Committee at Jinhua Polytechnic, Sun Xianhu, stressed that the partnership was extended because of the success of previous partnerships between the two countries. “International education cooperation is a very important part in our country,” he said. Sun revealed that China was keen on contributing to industrial development in Rwanda through supporting TVET education. “I think we can do more on the progress to have more industries so as to boost employment in Rwanda,” he added. The deal also seeks to establish Chinese language centre as well as a skills development centre at IPRC Musanze. Dr James Gashumba, the vice-chancellor of Rwanda Polytechnic, welcomed the partnership. “I want to express our gratitude for the partnership and friendship we have developed between Jinhua Polytechnic and IPRC Musanze. Since 2013 we’ve had Rwandan students go to Jinhua and they graduated in different programmes, 42 people have graduated,” he explained. Gashumba noted that Rwanda Polytechnic aims to train a critical mass of students and empower them with the skills required to cope with the changing needs of the job market. The Chinese government donated $16 million towards the expansion of IPRC Musanze campus. editor@newtimesrwanda.com

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IPRC Musanze, Chinese institute renew skills development partnership