China's Huawei Technologies, in partnership with the University of Zambia (UNZA), has launched an Huawei Authorised Network Academy (HANA) in Lusaka.

The academy's ICT practice centre at UNZA offers wireless transmission, solar power and optical fibre equipment to empower students with practical hands-on experience to enhance their ICT capabilities.

There is also a 'training-the-trainer' programme attached to the academy, established to help the Unversity support ICT lecturers to familiarise themselves with ICT industry practices and promote professional development.

Secretary to the Cabinet, Dr Roland Msiska said the initiative strengthens the government's resolve to create opportunities that will help build a stronger economy anchored on the Smart Zambia transformation agenda and adoption of new technologies.

"The establishment of the academy falls in line with the government's ICT human development roadmap which hopes to ultimately develop local skills to achieve a knowledge and innovation-driven economy. Government has identified education as a means through which ICT skills can be developed and nurtured," Msiska said.

Msiska said Zambia's private sector has complained over the lack of real world class skills among graduates, saying many do not possess the necessary hands-on experience to apply themselves within the market.

Thomas Hu, Huawei Technologies Zambia incoming MD said the academy was important for skills transfer in Zambia.

"The academy offers authorised ICT courses aimed at helping UNZA optimise curriculum and teaching continent, accelerate development of subjects and ensure competence of graduates. Through the academy initiative, the ICT solution provider hopes to support local ICT education and create more opportunities for individuals," Hu said.

The initiative adopts the university-enterprise cooperation model that supports solution feature cooperation with universities for course development, training and certification.