Mount Kenya University (MKU) has launched a Cloud Computing Initiative and the China-Africa Digital Technology Supermarket in partnership with China's Nanjing Vocational College of Information Technology (NVCIT) and Nanjing Zhongxing Xinyada Information Technology Co. Ltd. The initiatives aim to expand digital skills training, innovation, and industry-linked learning. This move is expected to prepare students and working professionals for opportunities emerging from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The launch was attended by MKU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, who described the initiative as a milestone in the university's efforts to position itself at the forefront of technological innovation and digital transformation. He emphasized that cloud computing is no longer an emerging technology but the foundation of modern digital infrastructure. The partnership will give students and staff access to advanced technologies, practical training, and innovative research platforms.
The China-Africa Digital Technology Supermarket is a practical innovation hub that integrates digital teaching resources, cloud technologies, and hands-on training. The facility aims to bridge the gap between classroom learning and industry requirements while promoting innovation, entrepreneurship, and locally relevant technological solutions. NVCIT President Kong Jie described the supermarket as a physical and practical platform for developing local digital-skills talent.
The partnership between MKU and NVCIT began in 2024, with joint implementation of the China-Africa Vocational Education Characteristic Project and the International Cooperation Project on Artificial Intelligence. The two institutions have transformed shared ideas into tangible achievements, including online training programs in Chinese language, communication technologies, and digital skills.
The MKU Digital Technology Academy has introduced hands-on courses in fifth-generation mobile technology (5G) and the Internet of Things. Enrolment is open to university students and working professionals seeking practical skills for careers in telecommunications, network engineering, and connected technologies. The academy combines classroom instruction with laboratory simulations to help learners understand modern communication networks and internet-connected devices.
The partnership between MKU and Xinyada began in 2024 and has developed into the MKU-Xinyada-Chinese Higher Education Institutions Consortium. The consortium brings together MKU and five Chinese higher education institutions, with Xinyada serving as the initiator and coordinating partner. Xinyada donated laboratory computers to MKU in 2024 to support the establishment of a Cloud Computing Training Centre.
A new memorandum of understanding signed on September 18, 2026, provides an expanded framework for training, technology transfer, joint research, innovation, and exchanges involving students and members of staff. The collaboration was further strengthened by a visit to Kenya by a Xinyada delegation, which reinforced the partners' commitment to cooperation in information technology, cloud computing, digital education, artificial intelligence, and technical skills development.
Key points
- MKU partners with China's Nanjing Vocational College to launch a Cloud Computing Initiative and the China-Africa Digital Technology Supermarket.
- The initiatives aim to expand digital skills training, innovation, and industry-linked learning.
- The partnership provides students and staff access to advanced technologies, practical training, and innovative research platforms.
