"To strengthen Africa's human capital and support the continent's effective integration into the Belt and Road Initiative, the technical and vocational institutions need to produce the right skills mix for young people. For this to happen, standards and structures need to be built in partnership with the government and private sector," Zhang adds.

A yawning gap between the government, learning institutions and entrepreneurs hampers the direction and development of the labor market.

"The vocational education alliances need the capacity to assist local governments in developing policies relevant to prevailing development challenges. They must then analyze the job market and come up with a clear strategy and cultivate learning according to market dynamics."

He says globalization and changing regional markets are prompting tertiary institutions to be more proactive.

"Polytechnics not only deal with practical aspects but also the theoretical. We are architects who modify processes in management to boost the productivity process. Complex challenges need institutions that adapt and are nimble enough to adjust accordingly, nurturing workers who are practical and relevant."

Zhang says there are more than 3,000 technical and vocational education centers in China, and all of them work toward supporting industry.

"We design programs and curriculums to tightly fit with market demands. Our institutions have built mechanisms that steadily adjust and closely monitor improvements and transformations in technological application. We constantly optimize specialty setups and adjust the development direction of programs, scientifically building the program group system."