The Namibia Training Authority (NTA) has signed strategic partnerships with institutions in China and South Africa to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), robotics and digital technologies into Namibia’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) system as it moves to prepare a future-ready workforce.
The NTA on Monday signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with China’s Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada Information Technology Co. Ltd and South Africa’s Orbit TVET College, expanding international cooperation in ICT, curriculum development, research, technology transfer, digital innovation and skills development.
NTA Chief Executive Officer Erick Fundula Nenghwanya said the agreements are designed to ensure Namibia’s TVET system keeps pace with rapidly evolving technologies reshaping global industries.
“The question before us is therefore not whether TVET should change, but whether it can change quickly enough to prepare our young people for opportunities that are already emerging,” he said.
Nenghwanya said advances in artificial intelligence, automation, robotics, advanced manufacturing and smart technologies are transforming labour markets, requiring vocational education systems to equip young people with future-focused technical skills.
The partnership with Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada will focus on developing AI and ICT curricula, digital learning platforms, applied research, technology transfer and smart skills centres.
Xinyada President Zeng Botao said demand for skilled ICT professionals is increasing as digital transformation accelerates across economies.
He said the company intends to work with the NTA to develop ICT training standards tailored to Namibia’s labour market, introduce AI and information technology curricula, establish hybrid training platforms and strengthen the country’s digital skills pipeline.
“We highly recognise NTA’s devotion to national skills development. Namibia is striving to narrow the digital divide and develop its ICT industry, which requires large numbers of local young ICT talents. This matches our corporate vision: we aim to turn our global industrial experience and training resources into local talent-driving power,” Zeng said.
Founded in 2017, Xinyada specialises in ICT research and development, communication engineering and system integration, and holds 52 software copyrights and trademarks, together with several patents.
The agreement with South Africa’s Orbit TVET College will strengthen collaboration in vocational education, institutional capacity building, curriculum development and skills exchange between the two institutions.
Nenghwanya said the partnership complements the NTA’s Nakayale-Eenhana-Valombola (NEV) TVET Hub, which brings together three public vocational training centres to develop centres of excellence in ICT, electronics, electrical engineering, automotive mechatronics and civil engineering.
“Behind every successful economy stands a skilled workforce,” he said.
He added that the NEV TVET Hub is designed to reduce duplication, improve programme quality, maximise institutional resources and strengthen the NTA’s capacity to produce graduates equipped for technology-driven industries and the future world of work.
