MKU Launches China-Africa Digital Technology Hub for Future Skills

Mount Kenya University (MKU) has launched a Cloud Computing Initiative and the China-Africa Digital Technology Supermarket at its Thika Main Campus, marking a significant step in strengthening digital transformation and technology education in Kenya.

The programmes were established in partnership with China’s Nanjing Vocational College of Information Technology (NVCIT) and Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada Information Technology Co. Ltd, known as Xinyada. They aim to expand digital skills training, innovation, artificial intelligence applications and industry-linked learning while preparing students and working professionals for opportunities arising from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

Speaking at the launch, MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi described the initiative as a milestone in the university’s drive to position itself at the forefront of technological innovation. “Cloud computing is no longer simply an emerging technology. It is the foundation of modern digital infrastructure that supports education, healthcare, business, research, manufacturing and government services,” he said.

Prof. Jaganyi noted that the partnership would give students and staff access to advanced technologies, practical training and research platforms. These resources, he said, would enable them to develop solutions to contemporary challenges and improve their competitiveness in the global job market. He stressed that universities must work closely with technology companies and international institutions so that academic programmes remain responsive to changing workforce demands.

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MKU and NVCIT have collaborated since 2024, jointly implementing the China-Africa Vocational Education Characteristic Project and the International Cooperation Project on Artificial Intelligence. A major highlight of the latest launch was the inauguration of the China–Africa Digital Technology Supermarket, a practical innovation hub that integrates digital teaching resources, cloud technologies and hands-on training.

The facility is designed to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements while promoting innovation, entrepreneurship and the development of locally relevant technological solutions. NVCIT President Kong Jie said the supermarket would serve as a physical platform for developing local digital-skills talent. “It will integrate digital teaching resources to support classroom instruction and hands-on training, empowering young people in Kenya to master the core competencies required in the digital era,” he said.

Kong described education and technology as key drivers of shared development and praised the progress already achieved. “Since our cooperation began, we have transformed shared ideas into tangible achievements. Our online training programmes in Chinese language, communication technologies and digital skills have built strong bridges for knowledge exchange and laid a solid foundation for long-term collaboration,” he added. He expressed hope that the partnership would expand to include student and staff exchanges, joint curriculum development, collaborative research and capacity-building programmes for lecturers.

Other NVCIT representatives at the event included Yang Qianhua, Dean of the School of Network and Communication, and He Miao, Dean of the School of Artificial Intelligence.

As part of the broader initiative, the MKU Digital Technology Academy has introduced practical courses in fifth-generation mobile technology (5G) and the Internet of Things. Enrolment is open to university students and working professionals seeking skills for careers in telecommunications, network engineering and connected technologies. The academy combines classroom teaching with laboratory simulations so learners can understand how modern communication networks and internet-connected devices are designed, operated and maintained.

Plans are under way to add further courses in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, drone simulation, Chinese language and cable infrastructure.

The partnership with Xinyada also began in 2024 and has evolved into the MKU–Xinyada Chinese Higher Education Institutions Consortium. The consortium brings together MKU and five Chinese higher education institutions, with Xinyada acting as initiator and coordinating partner.

An early milestone was Xinyada’s donation of laboratory computers to MKU in 2024 to support the establishment of a Cloud Computing Training Centre. The equipment arrived in December that year and the centre was developed with partial sponsorship from Xinyada. The company later conducted a needs assessment of MKU’s ICT infrastructure, training requirements and capacity-building priorities.

Momentum increased in 2025 when Xinyada introduced five Chinese higher education institutions to MKU, leading to a tripartite memorandum of understanding. Since May 2026 the Cloud Computing Training Centre has been training MKU students and staff, strengthening practical digital skills and opening avenues for professional development, research, innovation and international academic cooperation.

The collaboration was further reinforced by a three-day visit to Kenya by a Xinyada delegation led by the company’s founder and chairman. Accompanied by Prof. Jaganyi, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Dr Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, Principal Secretary for Higher Education and Research, and held discussions with MKU founder and Chairman Prof. Simon Gicharu. These engagements confirmed the partners’ commitment to cooperation in information technology, cloud computing, digital education, artificial intelligence and technical skills development.

A new memorandum of understanding signed on 18 September 2026 expanded the framework for training, technology transfer, joint research, innovation and student and staff exchanges.

MKU currently serves as the United Nations Academic Impact Hub Chair for Sustainable Development Goal 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure for the 2025–2030 period. The consortium supports this mandate by promoting technological innovation, digital skills development, institutional cooperation and investment in modern infrastructure.

Through these partnerships MKU is consolidating its position as a regional centre for technology-driven education, equipping students, professionals and staff with the competencies required to succeed in a rapidly evolving digital economy while advancing sustainable industrialisation and innovation.