Training standards are currently being developed in three industries: building and construction; manufacturing; and tourism and hospitality. There is substantial involvement by the relevant employer associations and trade unions.

Although this has not crystallised into standing arrangements through, for example, industry training committees, a number of associations have established their own training committees or training units.

Linking businesses and training providers

The Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) System Reform Programme is a joint intervention by the European Commission and the Egyptian government. It aims to address the significant shortage of skilled labour in Egypt and its resulting impact on the competitiveness of Egyptian enterprises in domestic and international markets.

By linking private sector businesses to public sector education and training service providers in public-private partnerships, the TVET Reform Programme works to bridge the gap between human resource needs and educational outcomes. The programme also supports the development of institutional capacity for the formulation and implementation of a national TVET reform policy. It adopts a decentralised, demand-driven, participatory approach to its interventions at all levels.

Initiatives that support employer engagement

			12 Enterprise TVET Partnerships (ETP) have been established as sector-wide networks in the fields of manufacturing, building and construction, and tourism. The ETP’s network covers 12 sub-sectors which represent the most promising industries in Egypt: ready-made garments, engineering, food processing, leather and leather tanning, chemical industries, printing and media, building and construction materials, woodworking and furniture, building and construction (including civil engineering and housing), and tourism (including hotels and restaurants, companies and bazaars).
			Cross-sector offices for local ETPs in Port Said, Alexandria, Menoufeya, Gharbeya, and Sharkeya. These are also based on public-private partnership and decentralised TVET principles.
			10 more local ETPs are underway

The following training councils have been set up:

			Industrial Training Council (ITC) at the Ministry of Industry
			Building and Construction Training Council (BCTC) at the Ministry of Housing
			Tourism Training Council (TTC) at the Ministry of Tourism
			The TVET policy platform is being prepared
			New organisational and legal structures for the PPP based Enterprise TVET Partnerships are being developed and implemented
			A National Quality assurance system for TVET (Standardisation, Accreditation and Certification) has been proposed, agreed and implemented on a pilot basis
			New training concepts are being developed, proposed, agreed and implemented on a pilot basis, e.g. alternating training and short-term upgrade training.