GREEN Gambia: advancing Agri and Eco-Tourism education
Liceul Tehnologic Harlau, Gambia College (GC), the Gambia Songhai Initiative (GSI) of the Ministry of Youth and Sport and CINOP are collaborating under the EU Erasmus+ project GREEN Gambia (GReen and sustainable Economic growth in Eco-tourism with New jobs in the Gambia). The four partners are aiming to create new job opportunities in the fields of Agri and Eco-Tourism for Gambian youth by ensuring that educational programmes align with labour market demands and the needs of the private sector.
In February, project partners met in Gambia and held several meetings with private sector partners. During these meetings, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation between the colleges and the private sector while addressing both strengths and areas for improvement.
Key strengths included the ease of connection between the colleges and the private sector, their familiarity with one another, and the seamless placement of interns for work-based learning. However, challenges were also highlighted, particularly the lack of structured reflection processes and the insufficient awareness among education providers and private sector partners regarding necessary quality improvements.
Additionally, a separated session was held where private sector representatives outlined the key competencies they seek in interns and graduates. Smaller companies, in particular, emphasised the importance of trust, as many interns and graduates would be integrated into their family business. Discussions also explored ways in which colleges could continue monitoring interns and graduates to address trust-related concerns effectively.
At the upcoming event, the insights gained from these discussions will be used to develop a track-and-trace system to facilitate feedback within educational programmes. Additionally, we will be working on two educational programmes specifically tailored for Agri and Eco-Tourism, ensuring that students acquire relevant skills for the evolving labour market.
