EU-supported BizConnect strengthens education-industry partnerships in Timor-Leste

Around 80 representatives from government, technical and vocational education and training institutions, universities, businesses, students and alumni gathered today for the BizConnect event. The event aimed to strengthen links between education and industry and support more labour market-responsive skills development.

Organised by the Instituto Politécnico de Timor-Leste under the EU–ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE), BizConnect provided an interactive forum for institutions and companies to identify shared priorities and explore concrete opportunities for collaboration. SCOPE-HE is funded by the European Union and implemented by Nuffic in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The event was opened by H.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino, Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing of Timor-Leste; H.E. Thorsten Bargfrede, Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste; Alcino da Costa Isaac Andrade Fernandes, President of the Instituto Politécnico de Timor-Leste; Jorge Manuel Serrano, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Timor-Leste; and Dr Frank Feulner, Team Leader of SCOPE-HE.

“Timor-Leste’s young people must be equipped with skills that respond to the realities of today’s labour market and prepare them for the opportunities created by the green and digital transitions. Stronger cooperation between education and training institutions, government and the private sector is essential to ensure that learning leads to meaningful employment and contributes to the country’s sustainable development,” said H.E. Mariano Assanami Sabino, Vice Prime Minister, Coordinating Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Rural Development and Community Housing of Timor-Leste.

“BizConnect is about creating real opportunities for young people in Timor-Leste by strengthening the link between education and employment. Today’s event is Global Gateway in action: connecting young people to skills, connecting skills to jobs, and connecting Timor-Leste to a wider regional ecosystem of cooperation and innovation. Through this initiative, the European Union is proud to support stronger partnerships between vocational and higher education institutions, industry, and government, helping to build a more inclusive, sustainable, and future-ready Timor-Leste,” said H.E. Thorsten Bargfrede, Ambassador of the European Union to Timor-Leste. 

“For the Instituto Politécnico de Timor-Leste, BizConnect is an opportunity to listen directly to employers and ensure that our programmes remain relevant to the skills Timor-Leste needs. We hope today’s exchanges will lead to practical cooperation, including industry input into curricula, workplace learning and internship opportunities for our students and alumni,” said Mr Alcino da Costa Isaac Andrade Fernandes, President of the Instituto Politécnico de Timor-Leste.

Through company presentations, discussions and direct exchanges between employers, students and alumni, participants explored cooperation on curricula, workplace learning, internships and pathways to employment. Timor-Leste is one of five priority countries in the regional BizConnect pilot, alongside Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR and Vietnam. Each event is designed around the participating country’s labour market needs and opportunities.

EU-ASEAN SCOPE HE

About SCOPE-HE Programme

The EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education (SCOPE-HE) is a collaborative initiative funded by the European Union (EU) and approved by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), running from February 2024 to January 2028 with a budget of EUR 9.3 million. Implemented by Nuffic, the Dutch organisation for internationalisation in education, in partnership with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). 

The SCOPE-HE programme focuses on enhancing exchanges and connectivity in higher education, research, and technical and vocational education and training within ASEAN and between ASEAN and the EU, with particular emphasis on the green transition, digital transformation, and the blue economy. Key activities include facilitating student and academic mobility, strengthening university networks to foster research collaboration, and improving graduate employability by connecting vocational education institutions with the private sector. Through these efforts, SCOPE-HE aims to create a more connected and dynamic higher education landscape, empowering future generations and strengthening the economic and social fabric of the region.

For more information about the SCOPE-HE programme, access: https://nuffic.nl/scope-he