NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 15 – Kenya is seeking to position itself as a regional hub for advanced aviation skills development after local training institutions partnered with a leading Chinese aerospace university to address Africa’s growing shortage of aviation professionals.
Harmonics Air Centre, working with Kenya Aeronautical College (KAC), has signed a training and research partnership with the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics (NUAA), a globally recognised institution in aircraft engineering, avionics and space sciences.
The partnership comes as Africa’s aviation sector rebounds from the pandemic, with airlines expanding fleets and routes but facing shortages of pilots, engineers, air traffic controllers and aerospace researchers.
Industry estimates indicate the continent will require tens of thousands of skilled aviation professionals by the 2040s to sustain growth and maintain safety standards.
Kenya’s push is anchored on its strategic location and established aviation infrastructure, including Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, one of Africa’s busiest aviation hubs. However, access to globally benchmarked aerospace training institutions has remained limited across the region.
Harmonics Air Centre Director Ekhalie Javan Muliro said the partnership aims to close this gap by providing African students with access to world-class aerospace education.
Under the arrangement, students will access training opportunities at NUAA through scholarships or self-funded programmes, with Kenya Aeronautical College serving as the official liaison in Kenya.
The partners said the initiative is expected to strengthen Nairobi’s position as a regional aviation training centre, aligning skills development with Africa’s long-term aviation growth needs.
