The leadership of The Liberia Academy of Sciences (LAS), headed by its President and CEO, Hon. Emmanuel Fred, met with the President and CEO of the Beijing Talent Technology Co., Ltd. (BTTC), Mr. Liwei Zheng, in Beijing, China, on June 5, 2025.

Their discussion centered on mutual collaboration and the establishment of the Africa Open University (AOU), which will offer technical and vocational training in Liberia and potentially across Africa.

The Liberian delegation discussed the need for practical skills training in areas such as AI, machine learning, renewable energy, information, and communication technology (ICT), construction and engineering, industrial processing engineering, agro-processing science, software development, Cybersecurity, electronic surveillance, industrial service printing, and entrepreneurship business development, emphasizing a shift from traditional education to

hands-on learning.

The AOU aims to create a platform for knowledge exchange between Liberia and China, leveraging online training to overcome funding and logistical challenges. The delegates further discussed the accreditation process, the importance of government support, and the necessity of establishing a network of international experts.

Members of the Liberian Delegation included:

Hon. Emmanuel Fred, President and CEO, Liberia Academy of Sciences, and Expert of the Service platform for International Professionals, Beijing Talent Technology Co., Ltd. Hon. V. Marshall Sambolla, Secretary General, LAS, and Expert of the Service platform for International Professionals, Beijing Talent Technology Co., Ltd. Hon. Moses S. Wright, and Expert of the Service platform for International Professionals, Beijing Talent Technology Co., Ltd. Mr. Philips Kiazolu, Members of LAS, and Expert of the Service platform for International Professionals, Beijing Talent Technology Co., Ltd.