
It is crystal clear that education is the key to a nation’s development worldwide. Devoid of education, countries worldwide fall behind the times and remain stagnant. It is worth mentioning that education is the backbone of every development under the sun.
I have visited polytechnic universities in various parts of my country and other countries at various points in time. While some are armed to the teeth with resources with the intention of elevating students’ skills, others lack the essentials to help them achieve their dreams in the shortest possible time. To be honest, they cannot help them move even one step forward in acquiring the necessary skills and knowledge. Without a shred of a doubt, failing to meet all the requirements poses danger to the teaching-learning process.
By the same token, some colleges do not fulfil everything required to make students stand on their feet. As long as broadening students’ horizons is part and parcel of polytechnic colleges, these institutions must equip themselves with the necessary advanced resources. Otherwise, achieving the desired goal turns out to be a wild goose chase and an impossible mission.
Taking the aforementioned reality on the ground into reality, pertinent bodies should move heaven and earth to make the dreams of students’ become a reality no matter what the cost may be.
When I saw modern resources being used to teach students during my visit to Shenzhen Polytechnic University in China, I could not believe my eyes. I realized to what extent they give their all for national development and transform students’ lives at the earliest possible juncture. They place emphasis on quality.
The university moves heaven and earth to advance integrating modern resources that enhance students’ skills across all departments. This being the case, students have continued accomplishing the desired goal at the earliest possible juncture.
Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU) is a state-funded undergraduate vocational institution that evolved from Shenzhen Polytechnic, which was founded in 1993. The university operates across three campuses—Xili, Xiangmi, and Shanwei-Shenzhen—covering over 4000 mu (approximately 667 acres). It employs more than 2,900 faculty and staff members and serves over 30,000 full-time students.
Aligned with Shenzhen’s key industrial sectors, SZPU has established 15 professional clusters. For the 2024 academic year, SZPU offers 15 undergraduate programs and 84 diploma programs for full-time students.
On March 18, 2023, Huawei Company authorized the establishment of the IASC at Shenzhen Polytechnic University. This collaborative initiative, jointly operated by Huawei Company and the university, primarily focuses on providing teacher training and technical support to domestic universities looking to establish and operate ICT colleges. The IASC at Shenzhen Polytechnic University is the first institution established by Huawei to support domestic ICT colleges, defining the university’s role as the leading institution in the national ICT college network.
Through over a decade of refinement and experience accumulation, a well-structured and scientifically designed three-tier curriculum system has been developed. As technology progresses, industry requirements undergo dynamic changes. The Huawei certification system continually adjusts its standards and content to stay abreast of these developments.
Importantly, the teaching curriculum seamlessly aligns with this certification system, offering students a cohesive integration of coursework and certification. Consequently, graduates having completed the curriculum and achieved Huawei certifications at various levels possess skill sets that precisely meet the contemporary demands of industry roles. This strategic synchronization ensures that students are well-prepared, eliminating any gap between their acquired skills and the current needs of the workforce.
An essential part of collaboration involves upgrading the certification system originally intended for Huawei Company’s internal engineers. It’s now extended to global engineers and students, greatly improving the adaptability and accessibility of the Huawei certification system. Another key element of collaboration involves incorporating the certification system into the telecommunications curriculum.
In 2011, a batch of school-level Huawei Network Technology Colleges was established. As Huawei Company’s business domains continue to expand, the Huawei Network Technology College was officially renamed the Huawei Information and Network Technology College in 2014, now commonly referred to as the ICT College.
By the end of 2023, the university has successfully nurtured a cadre of over 3,000 Huawei-certified engineers and more than 340 top-tier Huawei-certified experts. These certified professionals, after two to three years in their respective positions, command an average annual salary ranging from 200,000 to 300,000 Renminbi. This appealing prospect serves as a significant incentive for students.
Furthermore, students who attain the top-level Huawei certification just before graduation are eligible for a scholarship of 15,000 Renminbi. Consequently, the enthusiasm of students to engage in Huawei training and certification during their academic tenure is exceptionally high.
As of October 2023, Huawei has left an indelible mark globally, with a remarkable network of over 2,700 ICT colleges spanning across 126 countries. What’s truly impressive is that they annually train a staggering 250,000 Huawei-certified engineers worldwide. These impressive figures underscore Huawei’s profound commitment to driving global ICT industry development, highlighting the effectiveness of the university-enterprise collaboration in shaping this impactful talent development model.
The international demand for ICT talent from Huawei’s clients to reduce the operational costs of their ICT industries is considerable stressing the importance of well-established local talent systems to streamline ICT industry operations.
In response to Huawei Company’s invitation, the school has collaborated with the enterprise to extend its reach beyond national borders. It has adopted a strategy of establishing multiple training centers globally. This approach includes sending teachers directly to partner schools to train their educators to become Huawei-certified instructors.
Additionally, the school invites instructors from partner schools to the campus and host instructors from partner schools on the campus, where teachers provide valuable insights to them. A standout case of international collaboration is with the Institute of Technical Education, in Singapore, spanning five years.
Huawei has established 400-plus Huawei ICT colleges in China, and the ICT College at Shenzhen Polytechnic University stands out for its exceptional talent development. The dedicated full-time teachers are a key element in the school’s success. With strong university support, they undergo ICT technology and skills training at various Huawei centres every summer and winter break.
This keeps the faculty aligned with the latest advancements, ensuring Shenzhen Polytechnic University stays in sync with Huawei’s rapid progress. In this collaboration, the mutually beneficial connection between the university and the enterprise thrives, expanding the horizons of partnership.
Professor Wang Yong’s research team has played a paramount role in making the faculty achieved the desired goal. They successfully tackled critical technological challenges related to the production materials and processes of 5G base station boards at the Huawei 2012 lab. This breakthrough significantly enhanced the reliability of Huawei’s 5G base stations, particularly in extreme weather conditions like ultra-low and ultra-high temperatures.
In recognition of their contributions, Huawei Company expressed gratitude to Professor Wang Yong’s research team, marking a substantial milestone in the collaborative research endeavours. Twenty five underprivileged students have been selected for a Huawei certification expert training program, aiming to help them attain the Huawei HCIE certification and break the cycle of poverty.
Editor’s Note: The views entertained in this article do not necessarily reflect the stance of The Ethiopian Herald
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD SATURDAY 7 JUNE 2025