China–Ethiopia cooperation on technical and vocational education and training (TVET):terms, motives and future prospects

• Main Author: Geng, W. (Weisi)
• Format: Dissertation
• Language: English
• Published: University of Oulu 2016
• Subjects: Education
• Online Access: http://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:oulu-201602121190; http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:fi:oulu-201602121190

Various studies have been carried out on China-Ethiopia general cooperation. However, studies on the field of China-Ethiopia educational cooperation are rare. China-Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Education and Training cooperation compose a vital part in China-Ethiopia cooperation. Therefore this thesis analyzes the Ethiopia Technical and Vocational Education and Training cooperation with China. The purpose of this research is not only to uncover the Technical and Vocational Education and Training cooperation reasons, inputs, outcomes, and cooperation forms between China and Ethiopia, but also to look into the political and economic background of the cooperation, as well as to question the cooperation’s morality and efficiency in order to contribute to improving the cooperation. The research question is: how do Ethiopia and China cooperate on Technical and Vocational Education and Training, and what are the political and economic intentions? The data of this thesis mainly comes from empirical studies, academic publications, policies, and news. Because of the international neo-colonial phenomena and the controversial discussions on China-Ethiopia cooperation, the Post-colonial theory is also applied to guide the research conduction. Because of the variety of research data, the qualitative content analysis method is applied in analyzing the data. Through applying the methods, empirical studies are reviewed and discussed, policy implementations are examined in the research. As a result, the researcher uncovered the Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Ethiopia and China and the formation of the cooperation forms. The successes and challenges are introduced. The paradox of the cooperation formation of China providing Technical and Vocational Education and Training assistances for Ethiopia has also been analyzed from a post-colonial perspective. Moreover, aside from the fact that the cooperation supported by both will continue in future, the researcher analyzed the influences and effects of Ethiopia-China cooperation in national, regional and global levels. This research provides recommendations for further cooperation as well as further academic research. This thesis contributes not only to better understanding of China-Ethiopia relations and education cooperation, but also to the debate of China neocolonizing Ethiopia with education as a soft weapon.