30 years, 30+ stories: Egypt, a roadmap for socio-economic transformation through technical education

Egypt is in a unique geographical, cultural and economic position. Straddling the north-eastern corner of Africa and the Sinai Peninsula in Asia, with the Mediterranean to the north and the Red Sea to the east, it is a vital link between continents and trade routes. As the most populous of the ETF’s partner countries, Egypt's population of around 110 million represents both a challenge and an opportunity for socio-economic development. The country's population is projected to reach 150 million by 2050, underlining the urgent need for robust, inclusive and sustainable growth strategies.

In recent years, Egypt has embarked on transformative reforms to address long-standing socio-economic challenges. The 2016 Economic Reform Agenda and the subsequent 2021 National Structural Reform Programme (NSRP) underscore Egypt's commitment to diversification and sustainable development. Key sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture and ICT, have been prioritised to drive growth, alongside critical investments in education and training.

Despite significant progress, challenges remain. Poverty remains a pressing issue, with 30% of the population living below the poverty line. A few months ago, the ETF told the story of Reham Rizk, director of the Egypt Impact Lab, an initiative that works to strengthen poverty reduction policies through research and rigorous evaluation of government programmes.

Meanwhile, the labour market faces significant pressures, including high youth unemployment and skills mismatches, particularly among women and marginalised groups. Informality dominates the economy, accounting for around 60% of jobs and contributing 30-40% of GDP, often at the expense of job security and productivity.

Against this backdrop, Egypt's Vision 2030 is a roadmap for a knowledge-based society. It emphasises education, inclusion and economic resilience, particularly through Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) - the sector is experiencing significant growth, with the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE) reforming technical education with the help of the EU and the ETF.

Decades of ETF support for Egypt

Over the years, the ETF has established itself as a trusted partner in Egypt. A cornerstone of the ETF's engagement in Egypt is its advisory support to Egypt's TVET reform. This initiative, co-funded by the EU and the Egyptian government, is an example of mutual commitment to improving the quality and governance of TVET systems. Notable achievements include the introduction of international accreditation standards, improved teacher training mechanisms and the establishment of over 80 Applied Technology Schools (ATS).

These Technical Education 2.0 reforms have enabled Egypt to introduce competency-based curricula, work-based learning, and public-private partnerships, particularly through the establishment of the aforementioned ATSs. All of the reforms aim to align educational outcomes with labour market needs, thereby promoting opportunities for Egypt's growing youth population.

The ETF's commitment extends beyond policy frameworks to action on the ground. The Agency has worked closely with national stakeholders to refine quality assurance systems and improve teacher training through the Egyptian TVET Quality Assurance and Accreditation Authority (ETQAAN) and the Technical and Vocational Teachers' Academy (TVETA). These efforts address systemic challenges such as fragmented governance and private sector involvement, while promoting the sustainability of reforms.

The ETF's involvement in Egypt is also multi-faceted. Pasqualino Mare, the ETF's Country Liaison for Egypt, highlighted the organisation's "direct impact in driving reform by using its intelligence and expertise”. Working with the European delegation and other partners such as GIZ, AICS and USAID, the ETF ensures that Egypt's reform agenda is coherent and well-resourced. "We take a coordinated approach with key donors on the ground," said Mare.

A priority for the European Union

The EU's relations with Egypt have entered a new phase of strategic cooperation, marked by a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen last summer. Highlighting the EU's role as Egypt's largest trading partner and investor, von der Leyen stressed the importance of joint initiatives to promote economic resilience and technological innovation. Central to this partnership is the EU's €7.4 billion financial and investment package, which includes targeted funding for education, clean technology training and digital literacy programmes.

During the visit, von der Leyen underlined Egypt's key role as a "gateway to Europe" and its “ambitious goal of becoming a clean energy hub” in the Mediterranean. Projects aimed at strengthening renewable energy infrastructure, coupled with investments in green and digital skills training, are closely aligned with Egypt's aspirations to become a regional leader in clean tech value chains. With the support of the ETF, the Ministry of Technical Education is emphasising green skills in vocational education through recent reforms, introducing competency-based curricula, green specialisations and teacher capacity building.

"The partnership with Egypt is also a high priority for the ETF, given the importance of the reforms underway and the country's future prospects," says Sabina Nari, ETF expert on human capital development and focal point for the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean. For her part, ETF Director Pilvi Torsti's mission to Egypt this year reinforced the ETF's commitment to the country's development goals. High-level meetings with Egyptian officials, including the former Minister of Labour, Hassan Shihata, underlined the shared commitment to promote vocational education and skills development.

Torsti's visit underlined the ETF's role as a bridge between policy and practice in Egypt. By aligning EU resources with Egypt's strategic vision, the ETF is facilitating tangible results such as quality improvements in vocational education and training and the development of scalable model schools focusing on IT and green skills. During her visit, Torsti also underlined the importance of public-private partnerships and stakeholder coordination, stressing that these elements are essential to sustain long-term education reforms.

TVET Egypt reform: an in-depth look

The relationship between the ETF and Egypt has developed into a dynamic partnership focused on improving vocational education and training, promoting employability and addressing labour market challenges. Reflecting on this collaboration, Amr Bosila, Acting Deputy Minister of Education and Technical Education, stressed that the ETF's interventions have "strengthened Egypt's education and labour systems through strategies such as the Torino Process", which provides a robust framework for monitoring and evaluating progress of the country's VET system.

One of the ETF's key contributions is its aforementioned support to the Ministry of Technical Education through the €45 million EU’s initiative TVET Egypt. This partnership aims to operationalise Egypt's vocational education and training strategy and strengthen the institutions responsible for qualifications and quality assurance. The ETF has also been involved in broader thematic areas such as labour migration and digital transformation, providing technical advice and facilitating stakeholder dialogue.

"In other words, the ETF is helping to shape an effective ecosystem for human capital and skills development in a quite direct way," said Mare, who recently returned from two consecutive weeks of events and workshops in Cairo with the Egyptian authorities.

"The introduction of innovative education models such as the Applied Technology Schools and the Dual System under the Ministry of Education and Technical Education is an important milestone," Bosila added. These initiatives combine classroom learning with on-the-job training, creating pathways for students to acquire skills directly linked to industry needs.

A recurring challenge in Egypt's education system is the gap between what students learn and what employers need.

"The ETF has supported us with policy measures to bridge this gap, with targeted advice to improve career guidance, foster entrepreneurship and promote digital skills," Bosila said.

In addition to domestic reforms, internationalisation is a growing focus for Egypt's vocational education and training sector. Amr Bosila pointed to initiatives "aimed at accrediting ATSs to meet global standards, promoting cross-border recognition of qualifications, and integrating international elements into teacher training and professional practice".

These efforts not only improve employability, but also contribute to the credibility and quality of the whole Egyptian VET system. “The analysis of options to support the internationalisation of ATS schools is expected to yield insights that could benefit the broader national VET system. To this end, the review will include a reflection on the applicability of these solutions to other VET providers such as traditional schools and especially the Centres of Competence (CoCs),” said Bosila.

The reform process is not without its challenges. As Egypt expands its TVET programmes and seeks to internationalise its provision, maintaining consistent quality standards is crucial. Bosila noted the "potential tension between national and international expansions of the model schools" and stressed the "need for a robust governance structure to safeguard consistently high-quality standards as critical factors for the domestic and international credibility of the ATS".

Reflecting on the organisation's impact in the country, Mare noted that the Ministry of Labour, through the EU delegation in Egypt, had also asked the ETF to support local authorities in developing a vocational training strategy and reforming the Egyptian job classification system, inspired by the ESCO, the European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations framework.

"The ETF's level of expertise and independent approach continues to be crucial in advancing Egypt's human capital development," said Mare. "By aligning education with labour market needs, fostering international partnerships and building capacity for reform, the ETF is helping Egypt chart a course towards a future of inclusive growth and opportunity - and the strong commitment of the Egyptian authorities is certainly strengthening our shared vision."