Tola Tsegaye Alemu, an instructor at the Luban Workshop in Ethiopia, talks with a friend at the Tianjin University of Technology and Education on Aug 9. [Photo by Yang Cheng for China Daily]

Tola Tsegaye Alemu, a 34-year-old PhD student at the Tianjin University of Technology and Education and a key instructor at the Luban Workshop in Ethiopia, has garnered international recognition for his profound insights into teaching methodologies among the 33 workshops spanning Asia, Europe and Africa.

The Ethiopian teacher is currently receiving invitations to various international forums, including the upcoming Second World Vocational and Technical Education Development Conference scheduled to take place in Tianjin later this year. They are aimed at enhancing the vocational technological skills of African students.

"Africa's vocational education is still in its starting stages due to challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, varying materials and teaching resources. Consequently, certain vocations face difficulties in some countries, lacking established models to guide students toward successful careers. The Luban Workshop plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges and fostering improvement," he said.

Alemu serves as an educator at the Technical and Vocational Training Institute in Ethiopia, where a Luban Workshop was established three years ago through a collaboration between his institute and Tianjin University of Technology and Education, or TUTE.

His university stands as a leading vocational institution in Ethiopia, the headquarters of the African Union, and is recognized for its high-quality personnel training and educational programs.