Mbabane – The Ministry of Education and Training has called on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions in Eswatini to actively take advantage of opportunities offered under the Erasmus+ Programme to strengthen skills development and improve employability.
The call was made by the Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Naniki Mnisi, who was represented by Undersecretary Lungelo Nhlengethwa during an Erasmus+ Programme Information Session for TVET institutions held in Hilton Garden Inn in Mbabane.
Nhlengethwa said government regarded TVET as a strategic pillar for national development, noting that vocational education and training played a critical role in addressing skills mismatches, promoting entrepreneurship and supporting inclusive economic growth.
He said strengthening the relevance, quality and responsiveness of the TVET sector remained a key priority for the Ministry of Education and Training, in line with national development frameworks.
Nhlengethwa expressed appreciation to the European Union Delegation to the Kingdom of Eswatini for its continued partnership and support in strengthening education, training and skills development in the country.
He said the Erasmus+ Programme offered valuable opportunities for capacity building, institutional development, staff and learner mobility, curriculum innovation and international cooperation, which were directly aligned with Eswatini’s efforts to modernise the TVET sector and respond to labour market demands.
He said the information session was aimed at equipping institutions with practical knowledge on how to access and effectively utilise Erasmus+ funding, including guidance on proposal development, partner identification and use of the Funding and Tenders Opportunities Portal.
He encouraged TVET institutions and stakeholders to engage actively with the programme, especially as current Erasmus+ calls were open, urging them to form strong partnerships within Eswatini and across the Sub-Saharan African region and beyond.
Nhlengethwa noted that institutions such as the University of Eswatini, Limkokwing University of Creative Technology and the Southern African Nazarene University were already beneficiaries of Erasmus+ projects, demonstrating that local institutions were capable of competing successfully at international level.
He reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for international cooperation in education and training, adding that government would continue to support institutions in strengthening governance, improving quality assurance and enhancing readiness to participate in regional and global programmes.
Discussion about this post