Faculty members of South Africa Luban Workshop receive training at  the Tianjin Vocational Institute. [Photo provided by Tianjin University of Tianjin Vocational Institute]

Within just one month after the South Africa Luban Workshop's inauguration on Dec 16, 2019, about 1,000 people visited the workshop and nearly 100 teachers and students took part in related practical training and innovative projects.

"Our curriculum and teaching models are customized and systematically designed based on the characteristics and existing conditions of South Africa," said Liu Bin, president of Tianjin Vocational University.

Hardware equipment at the South Africa Luban Workshop is also readily available, including full-stack narrow band internet of things experimental kits, a shared comprehensive learning cloud platform and multifunctional three-dimensional printer.

During the epidemic, the faculty of the Durban University of Technology produced 8,000 protective masks by using 3D printing technology from China and the workshop's manufacturing equipment, and distributed them for free to local hospitals, elderly care institutions and emergency rescue agencies in South Africa.