Djibouti's high-level delegation, headed by Minister of National Education and Vocational Training Mustafa Mohamed Mahmoud, participated in the opening ceremony of the 2026 Global Conference on Professional and Technical Education Development. The conference took place in Tianjin, China, from October 15 to 17. The delegation included three ministry officials: Ron Saeed Haj Ismail, technical advisor to the minister and Djiboutian director of the Confucius Institute; Duksiye Ould Duksiye, technical advisor for vocational training; and Amina Ali Mohamed, director of strategic planning for partnership and performance in professional integration.
The conference marked a significant milestone in international cooperation in professional and technical education and training. It aimed to transition from exchanging experiences and implementing joint projects to establishing cooperation based on international standards. The conference promoted the "Beijing Agreement," the first international standard in this field. Djibouti's participation aligns with its efforts to strengthen international partnerships and develop its professional and technical education and training system. This development aims to enhance skills and align training programs with labor market requirements.
Minister Mustafa Mohamed Mahmoud engaged in two key events during the conference. He participated in a ministerial roundtable discussion focused on adopting the "Beijing Agreement," a major outcome of the conference. The agreement seeks to enhance international cooperation in professional and technical education and training based on shared standards. The minister also presented Djibouti's national vocational training policy for 2021-2035 and the results of its cooperation with China in this field.
The minister outlined three main axes for developing Djibouti's national system. These include enhancing graduate employability, strengthening partnerships between education and training institutions and the private sector, and upgrading the "Luban" workshop to become a specialized training and excellence center. This center aims to establish Djibouti as a regional hub for professional competencies. The minister also attended a symposium celebrating the tenth anniversary of launching the "Luban" workshops.
The "Luban" workshop in Djibouti, opened in March 2019, provides training programs for young people in strategic specialties such as railway engineering, international trade, and logistics. Djibouti hosts the first "Luban" workshop in Africa, highlighting the significance of the Djibouti-China partnership in developing professional and technical education and training. This partnership aims to equip young people with the skills needed to adapt to economic transformations and meet labor market demands.
A major outcome of the conference was the issuance of the "Beijing Agreement," the first international framework for standards in professional and technical education. The agreement was initiated by China and jointly published by 45 countries. It aims to improve training program quality, enhance cooperation between training institutions and companies, and promote lifelong learning and the use of modern technologies in education.
On the sidelines of the conference, Minister Mustafa Mohamed Mahmoud paid an official visit to Tianjin Vocational University for Railway Technologies. This visit aimed to strengthen Chinese-Djiboutian cooperation in professional and technical education and training, as well as qualify technical cadres. The conference also saw the release of a Chinese white paper on vocational education and training, along with new initiatives to expand international partnerships and enhance technical and professional skills.
Key points
- Djibouti's participation in the 2026 Global Conference on Professional and Technical Education Development reflects its commitment to improving its education and training systems.
- The conference promoted the "Beijing Agreement," the first international standard in professional and technical education and training.
- Djibouti-China cooperation in education and training aims to equip young people with skills needed to meet labor market demands.
Reporting sources
- Al Qarn · Al Qarn
