"Mozi Workshop"Bears Fruit:He University Creates a New Paradigm for Educational "Going Global"
Recently, the 2025 Liaoning Provincial Conference on Promoting Quality Construction of Higher Vocational Colleges was held in Shenyang. At the conference, outstanding construction units of overseas industrial colleges under the "Mozi Workshop" shared their experiences. As the only private university in the province invited to participate, He University shared its experience on the Cameroon Yaounde Optometry "Mozi Workshop" project, demonstrating both the innovative practices and people-centered warmth of China's education "Going Global".
China-Cameroon Collaboration to Build a System
With Parallel Development of Training Bases and Standard Output
In recent years, the Education Department of Liaoning Province has vigorously promoted the Chinese vocational education "Going Global". Leveraging the image of Mozi's as a "master craftsman of a nation", it has cooperated with "Going Global" enterprises, overseas vocational colleges and institutions to jointly build a physical operation overseas vocational education industrial colleges - "Mozi Workshop" through market-oriented operation and project-based management.This initiative aims to cultivate international technical and skilled talents for the countries co-construction of the "Belt and Road Initiative". The "Mozi Workshop" has become a "gold-standard model" for China's vocational education "Going Global".
Eye health is crucial to the sustainable development of human beings. Due to the lack of sufficient professional education and training opportunities, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries in Asia and Africa, the number of people with visual impairment continues to increase. To address this challenge, with the strong support of the Education Department of Liaoning Province, He University together with Shenyang Eyerobo Medical Supplies Co., Ltd. "Going Global" and joined hands with the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology of Cameroon and the African Ophthalmology Network Foundation to build the "Mozi Workshop" project in Cameroon.
The project aims to deepen the integration of industry and education and strengthen school-enterprise cooperation, filling the gap in the Cameroon's higher education system for related majors while providing hands-on corporate experience, ultimately help improve the eye health of Cameroon and its neighboring regions and promote the development of the local economy and society.
During the conference, Yan Chunhong, the representative of the Chinese collaborating institution of the Cameroon Yaounde Optometry "Mozi Workshop" project, shared updates on the project's implementation.
Yan Chunhong, the representative of the Chinese collaborating institution of the Cameroon Yaounde Optometry "Mozi Workshop" project, shared updates on the project's implementation.
According to the introduction, since the project has been launched, the joint practical training system between China and Cameroon partners has become the core support.
On the Chinese side, relying on the 1,200 square meter training center of the School of Visual Sciences of He University, equipped with more than 300 sets of training devices, some of which have been upgraded and equipped with Chinese-English operation guides and maintenance manuals. This facility not only undertakes the vocational skills training and certification of domestic optometrists and optical technician, but also provides standardized pre-training for Cameroonian students.
On the Cameroonian side, local universities have allocated 5 dedicated venues to build 2 training bases and 3 classrooms. At present, 60% of the equipment deployment of the optometry laboratory configured according to Chinese standards has been completed, covering core instruments such as autorefractors and ophthalmoscopes. In addition, the Africa Ophthalmology Network Foundation (AFROPHTA) has built 2 internship bases in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, and Douala, the economic cente, mainly providing internship venues for optometry students.
The Chinese training base
The Cameroonian training site have been partially equipped with essential instruments
Training base in Yaounde, Cameroon
Training base in Douala, Cameroon
Currently, the project has obtained support from the Ministry of Higher Education of Cameroon and the Cameroonian Society of Ophthalmology (SCO), which have approved to introduce China's distinctive optometrists vocational qualification system into Cameroon.
In accordance with the regulatory procedures of the country, the project is currently preparing to establish the "Cameroon Optometry Association" to help Cameroon establish localized optometrist and optical technician's professional standards by referring China's existing industry standard, so as to contribute a replicable Chinese vocational education model to the development of optometry technology in Cameroon and across the Central Africa region.
A Combination of Education and Training Yields Fruitful Results
Achieving the Leap from Short-term Training to Academic Education
Since the implementation of the project, educational outcomes have gradually demonstrated, achieving the leap from "short-term training" to "systematic education".
In terms of faculty training, the project has carried out two short-term teacher training activities and one long-term faculty development program, training a total of 17 Cameroonian reserved teachers.
In terms of degree education, the project has established Cameroon's first undergraduate degree program at the Higher Institute of Applied Science and Technology,which has been approved by the Ministry of Higher Education of Cameroon and is scheduled to officially launch in November 2025.
In terms of vocational education, three short-term vocational technical trainings, have been completed, benefiting nearly 200 trainees.
In February 2025, four teachers from He University conducted training in Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, for 12 international teachers reserved for the project.
Dr. Maxime Manga from Cameroon has been receiving systematic training at He University since September 2024
With the strong advancement of the cooperation project, He University will provide robust optometry education support for the implementation of the "Mozi Workshop".
Moving forward, He University will work together with partners to promote the Cameroon Yaounde Optometry "Mozi Workshop" project as a benchmark case of industry-education integration and university-enterprise cooperation between China and Cameroon in the field of eye health.
This initiative will drive the high-quality development of eye health in Africa and contribute to the well-being of humanity.
