Feature: Luban Workshop inspires Kenya’s digital trailblazers

Charles Mwaniki (R), the dean of School of Engineering and Technology at Machakos University, talks with students at Machakos University’s Luban Workshop, located about 65 kilometers southeast of Nairobi, Kenya, on Aug. 28, 2024. Since its launch in December 2019, the Luban Workshop at Machakos University has been a hub for digital skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship. (Xinhua/Lin Jing) 
by Naftali Mwaura
NAIROBI, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) — Jacqueline Mokaya’s mastery of computing has impressed both her tutors and peers at Machakos University’s Luban Workshop, located about 65 kilometers southeast of the Kenyan capital, Nairobi.
The 22-year-old information security major joined the Luban Workshop at her university in 2021, two years after it was established, becoming one of the first students to benefit from its advanced training on computing.
Joining the Luban Workshop, named after Lu Ban, an ancient Chinese woodcraft master, was a remarkable choice for Mokaya, who is determined to excel in information and communication technology (ICT), a field dominated by men.
“Everything in me has just improved because of the course that I am taking (cloud computing) and the training that I have been receiving from the Luban Workshop,” Mokaya told Xinhua during an interview on Wednesday.
Besides acquiring skills in cloud computing, she has also been participating in Huawei-sponsored courses on data communication, security and artificial intelligence (AI).
Mokaya wants to become an accomplished cloud architect, knowledgeable in networking and cybersecurity, skills that are in high demand in Kenya, which is trying to grow its digital economy.
Since its launch in December 2019, the Luban Workshop at Machakos University has been a hub for digital skills development, innovation and entrepreneurship.
In their dozens, local youth at the workshop have been rewriting the legacy of Lu Ban, the revered Chinese patron saint of builders and contractors, using modern technologies.
The glittering facility, established with support from Tianjin City Vocational College and Huawei, has been equipping Kenyan enrollees with advanced digital skills, including AI, cloud computing, big data, and the Internet of Things.
Charles Mwaniki, the dean of School of Engineering and Technology at Machakos University, said more than 100 students have trained in the elite ICT courses offered at the Luban Workshop since 2021, upgrading their skills and enhancing their employability in the digital economy.
“This Luban Workshop has made our students really marketable out there. We expose them to current technologies, and we have employed some of them as technicians,” he said.
At the Machakos Luban Workshop, Mwaniki said that the Engineering, Practice, Innovation, Project teaching model has been adopted, ensuring that the students practice what they learn and solve pressing societal challenges.
He said that courtesy of this teaching model, the students have come up with many innovations, including a mobile application that can help visually impaired individuals navigate their surroundings.
Equipped with a cutting-edge data center, modern computers and high-speed connectivity, Machakos University’s Luban Workshop is a prized attraction to students aspiring for digital literacy and competence.
Brian Albert Ndesa, a 22-year-old information technology major, joined the workshop in 2022, crediting its modern facilities for improving his skills set in computing.
“The specific skills that I have acquired at the Luban Workshop are networking, and my future career dream is to become a software engineer,” he said. “Also, I would like to pursue a course in AI and cybersecurity.”
China has set up 17 Luban Workshops in 15 African countries, as part of its international vocational education cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
At the Machakos Luban Workshop, Chinese tech giant Huawei has been at the forefront of bridging the digital skills gap in Kenya through training, mentorship and apprenticeship.
Franklin Mutisya, an instructor at the Machakos University Luban Workshop since its launch in 2021, said it has revolutionized training on advanced ICT courses through collaboration with industry, enhancing the competitiveness of students on the job market.
“Students now are able to interact with the industry standards. We have the tools to conduct more practical training that helps to bridge the academia and industry gap,” he said.
Thanks to skills acquired at the Luban Workshop, the students have also established commercially viable startups that are impacting positively on the local economy, Mutisya said. ■