Author: anwaar

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.

On Monday, June 30, 2025, Tripoli hosted a special meeting focused on the Green Economy component of the EU4SKILLS project. The event was attended by a group of stakeholders, representatives from educational institutions, and relevant entities, with the aim of launching green economy activities and developing a practical strategy to achieve tangible results that would enhance skills efficiency in the fields of the green economy and renewable energy.

The meeting opened with welcoming remarks by Mr. Saad Al-Hneish, Deputy Minister of Economy and Trade for Economic Affairs, who emphasized the importance of human resources in driving Libya’s economy. He praised the project for supporting the Ministry of Economy and Trade’s efforts in diversifying the economy and creating job opportunities. Mr. Mohamed Al-Aswad, Deputy Program Director at Expertise France in Libya, also stressed the importance of supporting skills development and fostering collaboration to create opportunities for sustainable development in Libya. Additionally, Ms. Yosra Bennaji, Director of the Green and Blue Economy Component of the project, delivered an introductory presentation outlining the core objectives and main pillars of this component.

The discussions during the meeting, attended by deans and academics from specialized colleges and departments in Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, Wadi Al-Shati, and Ajkhera, centered on the importance of developing educational curricula and vocational training. This is aimed at preparing a national workforce capable of operating in renewable energy sectors, as part of a comprehensive strategy to diversify the Libyan economy and enhance employment opportunities. The participants also reviewed the general framework of the planned training activities, including the train-the-trainers program, which will serve as a key pillar of this component.

It is noteworthy that this meeting is held within the framework of the EU4SKILLS project, funded by the European Union, with co-funding from the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in partnership with Libyan institutions. The overall goal of the project is to develop skills, enhance employment opportunities, support sustainable and digital economic transitions in Libya, and facilitate access to finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

A Libyan institutional representative delegation took part in a study tour in Paris on June 25–26, 2025, as part of the EU4SKILLS project, funded by the European Union and co-funded by the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with Libyan partners. The visit aimed to support Libya’s efforts in reforming higher education and vocational training through digital innovation, modern curriculum design, and closer alignment with labor market needs.

The Libyan delegation was headed by Mr. Saleh Al-Ghoul, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; Mr. Rajab Al-Akhashi, General Director of the National Center for Quality Assurance and Accreditation of Educational Institutions; Mr. Ezzedine Bin Dhou, Advisor to the Deputy Minister of Education and Vocational Training; and Mr. Mohamed Al-Suwaid, Senior Advisor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The delegation also included university professors from Tripoli, Benghazi, Sabha, and Gharyan, as well as experts in digitization and education, alongside Mr. Maxime BOST, Program Director at Expertise France, Mrs. Essia Enard, Director of the Digital Transformation component in the project, and members of the Expertise France team in Libya.

The programme included site visits to several leading French educational and research institutions. The tour began at Paris Santé Campus, where the delegation explored models of digital health innovation and the use of artificial intelligence in medical education. This was followed by a visit to Albert School, which combines data science and economics education through strategic partnerships with the private sector, offering strong pathways to employment.

On the second day, the group visited G2R Formation – CFA du Numérique, a certified vocational training center that co-develops its programmes with technology companies and delivers work-integrated learning. The visit also included a stop at CNAM, one of France’s key institutions for lifelong learning, where participants reviewed hybrid education models and continuous digital skills development.

The tour concluded with an institutional meeting at the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research, which included an overview of the national strategy for digital transformation in higher education, covering AI integration, digital platform development, and hybrid learning models to enhance inclusivity.

The visit deepened participants’ understanding of digital teaching practices and policy development and created new opportunities for future collaboration between Libyan and French institutions in training, capacity building, and knowledge exchange.

On May 10, 2025, the second Digital Workshop of the Libyan Digital Lab concluded, focusing on exploring the potential transfer of the innovative “PIX” digital learning and assessment platform to Libya, as well as laying the groundwork for a national Digital Maturity Index for Libyan institutions.

Over the course of two days, the workshop hosted Mr. Patrick AZAN, Digital Project Manager Expert from the French Ministry of Finance, and Mr. Perica SUCEVIC, an expert in digital law, open data, and digital administration. Members of the Libyan Digital Lab also took part in in-depth discussions on adapting the PIX platform to meet the specific needs of Libyan students, teachers, and public sector employees.

Pix is a leading French platform designed to evaluate and develop individuals’ digital skills. It has played a significant role in strengthening digital culture within French educational and administrative institutions.

Through collaboration with the Libyan Digital Lab, Expertise France aims to bring this experience to Libya and help drive a meaningful shift in the country’s digital landscape by providing individuals and institutions with an effective, interactive tool to measure and improve their digital competencies.

The workshop concluded with the presentation of practical recommendations and follow-up plans to continue developing the digital platform and designing the readiness index, with the ultimate goal of enhancing digital skills and increasing the capacity of Libyan institutions to undergo digital transformation.

This workshop is part of the EU4Skills project, funded by the European Union with co-financing from the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in cooperation with Libyan partners. The project aims to support skills development and improve employability by updating educational curricula, empowering youth, and encouraging digital transformation across various sectors.

As part of the EU4Skills project — funded by the European Union, co-funded by the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with Libyan partners — a successful 2-day study visit to the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), a leading institution in financial sector training across the MENA region, was recently concluded on the 5th of May 2025.

This visit marks a key milestone in the implementation of Component 4 of the EU4Skills project, which focuses on strengthening the skills and capacities of Libya’s financial sector. This effort is carried out in close partnership with the Libyan Institute of Banking and Financial Studies (IBFS) and the Central Bank of Libya (CBL).

During the visit, participants had the opportunity to tour Al Salam Bank, where they gained valuable insights into how leading commercial banks in Bahrain collaborate with BIBF to nurture talent and design strategic training programs.

The delegation included Mr. Ahmed Othman, General Manager of IBFS, and Mr. Ayoub Kraima, Head of Component 4 of the EU4Skills program.

 A dialogue session was held on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the headquarters of the Libyan Industry Union as part of the assessment phase of the EU4SKILLS project. This phase aims to evaluate the needs of stakeholders in preparation for designing project activities aligned with the project’s objectives to enhance graduates’ skills, increase their employability in more diverse sectors, and improve access to finance.

The session, chaired by Mr. Ali Nasir, CEO of the Libyan Industry Union, was held in the honorable presence of several stakeholders and relevant institutions, including Mr. Aref Al-Qajjiji, CEO of the Libyan Businessmen Council, Ms. Dalal Al-Hudhiri, representative of the Libyan Labor Market Authority, and Mr. Mohamed Al-Aswad, Deputy Program Director at Expertise France. Also present were representatives from the Civil Society Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Libyan private sector, and members of the UNIMED team and the Expertise France team in Libya.

The session featured important opening remarks and included fruitful discussions in which participants addressed the practical and technical skills required in the labor market, as well as the most promising sectors for the development of the Libyan economy. Participants also reviewed the challenges employers face in the hiring process, emphasized the importance of relying on local talent, supporting training programs, and explored effective mechanisms to bridge the gap between the outcomes of higher, technical, and vocational education and the changing needs of the labor market.

This session, along with previous dialogue sessions targeting higher education institutions and the financial sector, represents an important step in the preparatory process for implementing the upcoming activities of the EU4SKILLS project. The project is funded by the European Union with co-funding from the French government and implemented by Expertise France in cooperation with a group of Libyan institutions.

On Wednesday, February 26, 2025, a workshop titled “Financial and Banking Sector Skills Analysis in Libya” was held in Tripoli to discuss skill and training gaps in the financial sector, particularly in supporting small and medium enterprises. The workshop also focused on defining the role of the Institute of Banking and Financial Studies in capacity building and developing a shared vision to align education and training with the needs of Libya’s financial market.

The workshop, managed by BDO Jordan, the advisory partner of the EU4Skills project, opened with speeches from key figures, including Ahmed Othman, Director of the Institute of Banking and Financial Studies; Ali Nasser, Head of the Libyan Industry Union; Mohammed Alaswad, Deputy Program Director at Expertise France; and Ayoub Karima, Financial Sector Project Manager at Expertise France.

A comprehensive panel discussion followed, where participants from financial and banking institutions, academia, and the private sector exchanged insights on best practices for financial training development and enhancing partnerships between the academic and banking sectors to ensure the effective qualification of human resources to meet evolving market demands.

It is worth noting that the EU4Skills project is funded by the European Union, with co-financing from the French government, and implemented by Expertise France in collaboration with partners in Libya. The project aims to support employability in the Libyan market, promote digital transformation, improve access to finance, and develop skills in the green and blue economies to ensure sustainable economic development.