Huawei Injects Kes5m to Boost ICT Training at Zetech University

Zetech University has furthered its partnership with Huawei Technologies in a bid to enhance IT training and equip learners with the skills to address national and global challenges through ICT. The IT firm has invested a total of Ksh 5.3 million in form of ultra-modern training equipment to enhance the institution’s Faculty of ICT and Engineering.

The deal will see Huawei provide training equipment including modern routers, switch and management devices worth $52,702.19, (Kshs 5.3M) for the training while Zetech University will ensure students are enrolled and allocated a special laboratory room for the Huawei ICT Academy.

According to Su Shuqi, the Training and Certification Manager, Enterprise Business Department at Huawei, establishing a knowledge transfer hub is an effort to reward and appreciate the achievements the University has attained and provide the institution with the right resources and training facilities to continue as a leading Huawei Academy.

On his part, Zetech University Vice Chancellor Prof. Njenga Munene lauded the firm for the commitment to education through ICT and highlighted that the partnership empowers students to generate innovative solutions and creativity in IT and enterprise that will ultimately impact the country. “We value this collaboration that has largely contributed to building students’ skills required to address the changing needs of the IT Industry. Through this endorsement, we are set to achieve great things together.” said Prof. Munene.

The institution first signed an MOU with the firm to become a Huawei Authorized Information Network Academy (HAINA) in May 2018; this partnership has seen the University receive the Best Huawei ICT Training Academy 2018 award during the Huawei ICT Competition 2018-2019 Southern Africa Academy held last November.

First launched in 2017, the HAINA programme aims to transform universities into institutions that produce a skilled workforce required by employers that will drive continued transformation of the economy through technology.  The academy thrives on students and faculty’s heightened interest in Huawei Certified ICT Associate (HCIA) courses, following the successfully Huawei ICT Competition that saw 40 universities in the country participate.

In the contest, Zetech Bachelor of Science in Information Technology student Kennedy Muthaura beat over 3900 Kenyan students to clinch the top prize while the University’s ICT Trainer Samuel Kinuthia was awarded Best Lecturer. Muthaura will travel to South Africa on 22^nd February, accompanied by the trainer, to participate in the African edition of the competition and participate in the Huawei ICT talent Ecosystem Development Steering committee for Sub-Saharan Africa conference.

As the partnership progresses, the firms are set to collaborate on an impactful community initiative geared towards enhancing the learning of IT in secondary schools in the Country through training of computer education teachers, in line with the Country’s new education system.