Egypt – July 23, 2025
The VET4Social Impact project marked another key milestone with the successful implementation of its first Advisory Group meeting in Egypt, held virtually on July 23, 2025, and facilitated by the Confederation of Egyptian European Business Associations (CEEBA).
This inaugural session brought together distinguished leaders and experts from the tourism, vocational training, and business sectors to discuss strategic directions and collaborative pathways for strengthening vocational education and training (VET) in Egypt and the broader region.
The meeting began with welcoming remarks from CEEBA, providing an overview of the VET4Social Impact project’s objectives, partners, and long-term vision. The project seeks to harness the transformative power of vocational education to drive social inclusion, community empowerment, and sustainable employment opportunities—particularly in tourism-related sectors.
Participants explored the purpose and expectations of the Advisory Group, focusing on how each member could contribute to enhancing the relevance, quality, and impact of the project’s activities.
The session underscored the strategic importance of the tourism and hospitality industry as one of Egypt’s main employment drivers. Attendees emphasized the urgent need to bridge skills gaps across key sub-sectors such as hotels, restaurants, transportation, and craftsmanship.
A particularly engaging discussion revolved around expanding alternative accommodations, such as Airbnb-style lodging, to support Egypt’s national tourism growth strategy. The group also examined Italy’s rising demand for skilled Egyptian workers, which presents new opportunities for cross-border vocational cooperation.
All participants expressed strong enthusiasm for contributing to the Advisory Group’s work, raising insightful questions about project timelines, milestones, and future events.
To ensure structured follow-up and effective coordination, several concrete steps were agreed upon:
- Sharing a detailed project timeline outlining key milestones and upcoming activities.
- Distributing a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the Advisory Board’s responsibilities.
- Creating a dedicated WhatsApp group to enhance communication and collaboration among members.
- Establishing a regular meeting schedule to maintain momentum and track progress.
These actions reflect the group’s shared commitment to fostering participatory governance, knowledge exchange, and joint problem-solving throughout the project’s lifecycle.
The meeting concluded with a unified sense of purpose and optimism. Attendees reaffirmed their dedication to supporting community-based tourism development, skills enhancement, and inclusive growth through vocational education.
By convening key national actors under a shared vision, the VET4Social Impact project continues to lay the groundwork for innovative, impact-driven partnerships that will help shape a more resilient and socially responsive VET ecosystem in Egypt.
