A meeting was held in Tripoli on Wednesday, July 2, 2025, as part of the activities of Component One of the EU4SKILLS project, which focuses on enhancing the alignment between the outcomes of higher, technical, and vocational education and the needs of the labor market. The meeting aimed to develop a roadmap for the activities of this component, establish a timeline, and define the expected outputs.

The meeting was hosted by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, with the participation of Mr. Saleh Al-Ghoul, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, and Mr. Ali Naseer, Executive Director of the Libyan Industry Union. Also in attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Technical and Vocational Education, the Ministry of Labor and Rehabilitation, the Libyan Authority for Scientific Research, the Center for Quality Assurance, and from Expertise France, Mr. Mohamed Al-Aswad, Deputy Director of Programs, along with several members of the project team.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks, followed by an introductory presentation delivered by Component Manager Mr. Sohaib Sbeita, in which he outlined the critical role of Component One in supporting employability through strengthening the connection between higher education and the labor market, and by developing a comprehensive employment strategy for the higher education sector.

The meeting featured a focused technical discussion on the component’s priorities, during which the general outlines of the upcoming work plan and timeline were defined. Participants also discussed the challenges hindering the alignment of educational outcomes with the demands of the Libyan labor market, whether at the institutional or legislative level. Agreement was reached to form implementation and follow-up teams tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy to enhance employability and align the outcomes of higher and vocational education with the Libyan labor market by the end of next year.

This meeting is part of the EU4SKILLS project, funded by the European Union with co-financing from the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in Libya in cooperation with Libyan institutional partners. The project aims to develop professional skills and improve employment opportunities in Libya by promoting digital transformation, diversifying the Libyan economy, and improving access to finance in line with sustainable development priorities and labor market needs in the country.