From Confucius Institute to Luban Workshop: China’s evolving education policies in Africa

This chapter examines China’s evolving educational commitment through its foreign policies such as the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Action Plan series. A historical review of discourse and practice illustrates China’s shifting emphasis from overall educational cooperation to a more pronounced focus on tertiary education, culminating in a strategic agenda to enhance Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in African countries. The chapter pays particular attention to the role of the Confucius Institute (CI), which has primarily contributed to Chinese language education and cultural exchange, in contrast with the growing number of Luban Workshops – China’s newly initiated vocational training projects that offer skills and potential career pathways for young professionals in Africa. Together, the development of these two entities reflects China’s changing approach to building soft power.