From 22 to 24 June 2026, the partners of the VET4Social Impact project met in Nicosia, Cyprus, for the Intermediate Project Steering Committee Meeting, hosted by CARDET. The three-day meeting brought together representatives from all partner organisations to review the project’s achievements, evaluate ongoing activities and coordinate the next stages of implementation across Egypt and Palestine.

The meeting opened with a comprehensive review of the project’s progress, focusing on activities already completed or currently underway. Partners discussed the implementation of the VET4Social Impact Self-Assessment Tool, the successful delivery of the Entrepreneurial CoVE Training Programme in Ramallah, the development of the project’s Digital Training, and progress on activities related to Social Entrepreneurship. This collective review provided an opportunity to assess achievements, identify lessons learned and ensure that future activities build upon the project’s growing impact.

A significant part of the Steering Committee was dedicated to planning the project’s work programme for 2026–2027. Through collaborative working sessions, partners coordinated the implementation of the upcoming training activities, including digital strategies, additional Entrepreneurial CoVE training modules, peer learning activities in Italy, training on social impact evaluation and fundraising. Discussions also covered the next phase of community-based tourism activities, the organisation of international hackathons, the final international conference and the evaluation framework that will measure the impact of these initiatives.

The second day combined strategic planning with practical learning opportunities. Partners visited the Cyprus Handicraft Service, where discussions explored sustainable tourism practices and their potential contribution to local socio-economic development. Back at CARDET’s headquarters, the consortium reviewed the latest developments in the project’s Social Entrepreneurship work package, including the presentation of mapping results from Egypt and Palestine, updates from preliminary local training activities, and detailed planning for the next implementation phase. Special attention was also given to the organisation of future training modules, peer learning activities, social impact evaluation methodologies and the development of the Sustainable Tourism Cluster. The day concluded with a dedicated session on project reporting and performance indicators, ensuring alignment on monitoring and quality assurance across the consortium.

The final day focused on dissemination and communication. Facilitated by AKMI International, partners participated in a hands-on communication workshop designed to produce new communication materials and strengthen the project’s visibility. Working collaboratively, consortium members developed dissemination outputs while exchanging ideas on how to communicate project results more effectively to stakeholders, beneficiaries and the wider public. The meeting concluded with a recap of agreed actions, responsibilities and upcoming milestones, providing a clear roadmap for the months ahead.

The Intermediate Project Steering Committee reaffirmed the consortium’s shared commitment to strengthening entrepreneurial vocational education and promoting social innovation across Egypt and Palestine. By bringing together expertise from different organisations and countries, the meeting reinforced collaboration, ensured effective coordination of future activities and laid the groundwork for the successful delivery of the project’s next implementation phase.