Egyptians hone skills at Luban Workshop

CAIRO — At Ain Shams University in Cairo, tech students are proud of their outstanding hands-on experience thanks to a workshop in the name of Lu Ban, a craftsman in ancient China.

"The Luban Workshop helps us to put what we learned into practice through the process of dismantling, examining, repairing and assembling real engines, brakes, etc," Karim Mohammed, a mechatronics engineering student at ASU, said while overhauling a car at the workshop.

Mohammed said he easily outrivaled others in training sessions outside the university after going through the "efficient and high-level training" at the workshop.

Launched at ASU in 2020, the 1,200-square-meter workshop provides practical training in computer numerical control machine operation and maintenance, renewable energy installation and operation, and automotive inspection and maintenance.

Co-founded by China's Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College, Tianjin Transportation Technical College and ASU, the workshop is hailed by ASU teachers and students as a benchmark vocational education program of China-Egypt cooperation in capability-building and technology localization.

"The workshop uses specifically designed equipment to provide trainees with the necessary skills to operate, maintain and troubleshoot equipment and systems," said Adel Mohamed Mounib Abdel Aziz Al-Sabbagh, a professor with ASU's Faculty of Engineering and supervisor of the workshop.

Preparing for career

He said that practical training combined with theoretical study at the workshop helps prepare the students for the job market, especially for those majoring in energy, mechanical and engineering-related disciplines.

"Teachers and instructors would receive intensive in-depth training for five weeks in China before working here, so that they can train students with the highest level of skills," he said, noting the workshop also addresses the shortage of laboratories in the faculty and complements its curriculum with quality summer training courses in various fields.

"This is our first cooperation program with the Chinese side," he said.

Another Luban Workshop in Cairo opened in 2022 at the Advanced Technical School for Maintenance Technology.

"We don't give them fish; we teach them how to fish," said Li Yunmei, president of Tianjin Light Industry Vocational Technical College.

"We assist the Egyptian side in training highly competent and skilled teachers so that they can nurture more talents to contribute to the country's economic development."

Xinhua