In brief
On October 28, Xinhua reported the launch of Zheng He College, a vocational training center in Windhoek developed jointly by Nantong Vocational University and Welwitchia University. The college will offer mechanical manufacturing, automation, and construction engineering programs starting in 2027 and aims to broaden access to technical training for Namibian students. The initiative follows a 2025 cooperation agreement and aligns with a 2024 memorandum of understanding signed during President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah’s visit to China.
On October 28, Xinhua reported that Namibian and Chinese universities are launching Zheng He College, a vocational training center in Windhoek that will begin enrolling students in 2027.
The joint venture is a partnership between China’s Nantong Vocational University and Namibia’s Welwitchia University, and is housed in a standalone building in the capital city of Windhoek.
In a formal tripartite agreement signed on November 27, 2025, Welwitchia University, Nantong Vocational University and Nami Prefabricated Housing—a local construction firm—agreed to promote technical and vocational education and practical training in Namibia.
The first cohort of students will be admitted in the first quarter of 2027, and the college will initially offer programs in mechanical manufacturing, automation and construction engineering technology, according to Amon Haufiku, director of technical and vocational education and training at Welwitchia University.
Haufiku said that “this will allow Namibian students to access similar technical training locally, while benefiting from the expertise and experience of our Chinese partners.” He added that the partnership would “envision student exchanges that will enable students to study in both Namibia and China, deepening cultural understanding, academic cooperation, and practical skills development.”
The initiative stems from commitments made during Namibian President Netumbo Nandi‑Ndaitwah’s state visit to China in July 2024, when the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in education, technical skills training and technology.
During that visit, the two countries also signed a memorandum of understanding on TVET cooperation to promote exchanges and collaboration between vocational education institutions in both nations.
By establishing Zheng He College, the partners seek to broaden access to vocational training for Namibian students, particularly in fields that support the country’s industrial and construction sectors.
Windhoek’s new campus will serve as a platform for cultural and academic exchange, potentially fostering deeper ties between Namibian and Chinese technical communities.
The launch of Zheng He College represents a concrete step toward expanding local opportunities for technical training in Namibia and building lasting educational partnerships with China.
