During his visit to Shenyang City, China, in July 2024, the Kyabazinga of Busoga Kingdom, His Majesty William Gabula Nadiope IV, sought collaboration with Shenyang Polytechnic College to promote vocational education in Busoga, his area of jurisdiction.
The Kyabazinga’s request was successfully considered, leading to a powerful partnership agreement signed on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. On behalf of Busoga, the cooperation was signed by Mr. Anthony Mula, the Director General of the Busoga Consortium for Development (BCD), along with authorities from the renowned Chinese vocational college.
The three-year cooperation agreement was sealed during a meeting in Shenyang City, China, where the Kyabazinga attended the assembly virtually via Zoom.
“This collaboration will benefit five vocational institutions in Busoga in terms of skills development,” Mr. Mula told Busoga Today.
Mula, who has been in China for a 10-day visit, has signed several agreements with different Chinese agencies, potentially paving the way for transformation for young people in Busoga, especially through vocational education.
According to the agreement, Shenyang Polytechnic College will partner with the following institutions in Busoga: Busoga International Polytechnic in Jinja City, Basoga Nsadhu Technical Institute in Mayuge District, Nkoko Memorial Technical Institute in Mayuge, Nawanyago Technical Institute, and Bupadengo Technical Institute in Kamuli District.
During his remarks, Mula noted, “The signed agreement is a great milestone towards addressing unemployment and fostering innovation among the young people of Busoga, as efforts are made to steer Busoga towards prosperity.”
On behalf of the Kyabazinga, Mula commended the Shenyang City People’s Government for facilitating the cooperation as part of the framework for collaboration between Jinja City and Shenyang City.
Mr. Lyu Yiming signed the cooperation agreement on behalf of Shenyang Polytechnic College. The college’s Vice President, Mr. Lyu, described the institute as the number one electrical and mechanical assessment college in China.
“This is a national model higher vocational college and a key institution for producing high-level professionals in China,” Mr. Lyu said.
The college hosts some of the best modern apprenticeship pilot units of the Ministry of Education and is one of the top 50 internship management and teaching resource centers in China.
He stated that the established cooperation would enable Ugandan youth to visit the college and receive specialized technical training in the production and assembly of BMW cars and aircraft.
According to the college’s Vice President, Ugandan students will be required to have a minimum of a Higher Secondary Education certificate to qualify for admission.
Notably, Mula had previously signed the renewal of a five-year cooperation agreement on October 18, 2024, between Jinja School of Nursing and Midwifery and Shenyang Medical College, also located in Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China.
This followed the expiry of the previous agreement between the two institutions, which was signed on September 11, 2018.
According to Mr. Mula, the renewed cooperation will focus on the promotion of tutor and student exchanges, joint research, and the exchange of academic materials, publications, and information, among other initiatives.
