ETQAAN Engages with the European Training Foundation and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to Strengthen Coordination and Integration for Ensuring the Quality of TVET through Activating Sector Skills Councils
ETQAAN Engages with the European Training Foundation and the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to Strengthen Coordination and Integration for Ensuring the Quality of TVET through Activating Sector Skills Councils
part of ongoing efforts to develop the (TVET) system, H.E. Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mousa Emarah, Chairman of ETQAAN, held an extensive meeting at the Authority’s headquarters, with the participation of relevant stakeholders and international experts. The meeting aimed to explore mechanisms for activating Sector Skills Councils and enhancing the alignment of TVET outcomes with labor market needs.
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Mousa Emarah stated that this meeting comes within the framework of the Egyptian government’s direction to strengthen TVET as a key driver for developing the skills required to enhance economic competitiveness and support innovation.
He further emphasized that the meeting reflects ETQAAN’s ongoing efforts to fulfill its role in promoting the quality of TVET in collaboration with international development partners and the Egyptian government, highlighting the importance of integrating roles among all ministries and relevant entities within the TVET system.
Dr. Shaimaa Mahgoub, Advisor to the National Wages Council and Head of the Labor Market Policies Unit at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development, outlined the Ministry’s efforts over the past months to support the establishment of Sector Skills Councils in cooperation with international development partners and the private sector. She noted that this meeting underscores the importance of coordination and integration between the Sector Skills Councils system and ETQAAN, particularly in relation to quality assurance systems and the accreditation of vocational standards necessary to improve workforce skills, especially in leading economic sectors, in line with competitiveness-driven economic development goals.
Mr. Pasqualino Mare, an expert from the European Training Foundation (ETF), affirmed that the Sector Skills Councils system is being designed in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development to align with the Egyptian context and support international accreditation. He also confirmed the Foundation’s readiness to provide full technical and technological support through international experts across all stages of implementation, to achieve required goals of this system, stressing the importance of achieving this within a framework of national consensus and in accordance with European standards.
Dr. Dalia Taha, Senior Expert at ETQAAN, highlighted the importance of integrating future skills—such as digital and green skills—while strengthening the international dimension in workforce preparation, particularly in globally oriented sectors such as tourism.
The meeting was attended by Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Fares, Deputy Chairman for Technical Education Affairs; Prof. Dr. Ibrahim Lotfy, Deputy Chairman for Vocational Training Affairs; Dr. Dalia Taha, Senior Expert at ETQAAN; Dr. Shaimaa Mahgoub, Head of the Labor Market Policies Unit and Advisor to the National Wages Council at the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development; Mr. Walid Qureish, Executive Director of the Sector Skills Committee at the Ministry; Dr. Mohamed Ahmed Mostafa, Executive Director for Governance and Policies at the Sector Skills Committee; and Mr. Pasqualino Mare, Senior TVET Expert at the European Training Foundation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, all parties agreed on the importance of collaborative work among stakeholders and increasing capacity-building efforts to ensure a shared understanding of key concepts such as TVET, lifelong learning, and prior learning. This would contribute to build an integrated and effective system that supports economic development and enhances the competitiveness of the Egyptian labor market.