Sino-Senegalese cooperation: Technical training, AI and partnership with Huawei at the heart of Idrissa Samb's discussions in China

On the sidelines of the Global Smart Education Conference 2026 currently being held in China, the Minister of Employment and Vocational Training, Idrissa Samb, began his diplomatic mission in Beijing with a working visit to the Ambassador of Senegal to China, His Excellency Mr. Ibrahima Sory Sylla, and officials of the Senegalese diplomatic representation.

This high-level meeting provided an opportunity to address in depth the structural challenges related to youth unemployment and the recurring mismatch between training programs and the actual needs of the job market. The discussions highlighted the urgent need to implement locally based vocational and technical training programs directly guided by the expectations of businesses, particularly through strengthening the school-business partnership model and creating specialized vocational high schools.

To support these ambitions for 2029, Senegalese diplomacy and the Ministry reaffirmed their shared commitment to fully integrating vocational training into the heart of Sino-Senegalese cooperation. In this regard, several strategic areas will be explored, beginning with the dissemination of Luban workshops in vocational and technical training institutions throughout the country, building on the experience already gained at the National Center for Vocational Qualification. This partnership will also focus on the continuous professional development of trainers, the introduction of new, cutting-edge technological fields, and the modernization of national infrastructure.

The ministerial delegation then received detailed presentations on Huawei's infrastructure, which highlighted the importance of its massive investments in research and development as the main driver of its innovation. The technological solutions presented directly align with several major components of the national Smart E-Jokkoo program, including school connectivity, the implementation of smart classrooms, the creation of a shared data center, and the development of new sectors related to artificial intelligence, cloud computing, networks, and automation. However, the Senegalese delegation emphasized that the models observed in China must be rigorously adapted to Senegal's realities, priorities, and capabilities, thus ruling out any complete or immediate transposition.

Previously, at an international roundtable on the Governance of Artificial Intelligence in Education, Idrissa Samb spoke on behalf of the Senegalese government. Faced with the rapid pace of technological change, the minister delivered a firm and ambitious message, stating that "AI must be integrated into our classrooms in a structured, equitable, and deeply rooted way, grounded in our realities." He emphasized that it is now time to move beyond broad theoretical principles and establish clear, sector-specific rules that are immediately applicable across all educational institutions.

To guide this comprehensive transformation, the minister outlined the four fundamental pillars of Senegal's strategy to the audience. The first principle is based on human oversight, emphasizing that "AI is a pedagogical tool that assists teachers, never replaces them." The second pillar concerns inclusion, promoting "technology designed for all our regions and valuing our national languages." The third pillar focuses on responsibility, consisting of "rigorous experimentation and evaluation before any large-scale deployment." Finally, the fourth pillar highlights sovereignty, aiming to "secure our strategic data and maintain control over our technological choices."

This mission to Beijing confirms the authorities' determination to bring about lasting transformation of the education and vocational training system. Following the discussions, Idrissa Samb reaffirmed the government's vision, declaring: "Our ambition remains unchanged: to harness innovation while building, with strategic partners, the vocational and technical training of tomorrow!"