- Students will gain practical, hands-on experience by working on real construction projects, helping them apply classroom knowledge in a professional setting.
- The partnership aims to produce job-ready graduates by offering professional certifications that validate skills and improve employability.
- Universities will better align their academic programs with industry needs, ensuring that students graduate with the skills employers are actively seeking.
Cameroon has taken a major step to make university education more practical and job-focused. The Ministry of Higher Education has signed a framework agreement with China First Highway Engineering Co., Ltd. (CFHEC) to strengthen professional training and improve graduate employability.
The agreement aims to bridge the long-standing gap between classroom learning and workplace requirements. Cameroonian Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo said the partnership will support real skills development and help build a stronger national workforce. He also stressed the value of closer education cooperation between Cameroon and China.
Under the partnership, students and recent graduates will receive hands-on training at active construction sites operated by CFHEC across the country. These sites will function as open learning spaces where participants can gain practical experience alongside professionals. At the end of the program, trainees will receive professional certifications that validate their readiness for employment.
Officials said many university graduates currently struggle to find jobs because they lack practical skills, even though they hold academic degrees. Marcel Fouda Ndjodo, inspector general of academic affairs, noted that the new model directly responds to labor market needs by combining theory with real-world exposure. He said the initiative will help students transition more smoothly from education to employment.
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CFHEC’s chief engineer, Zhao Zongzhi, said the company has long focused on developing local talent and transferring technical knowledge during its work in Africa. He described the agreement as a fresh starting point for youth employment, higher education reform, and practical cooperation between the two countries.
The partnership is expected to strengthen university-industry collaboration, improve workforce readiness, and create more employment opportunities for young people. By linking education with real jobs and skills, Cameroon hopes to produce graduates who are better prepared for today’s competitive labor market while deepening people-to-people ties with China.
