About the project 

The MOBILISE project aims at launching a scalable and institutionally entrenched circular talent development program between the Netherlands and Tunisia, Egypt, and Ethiopia for the strengthening of climate-smart agriculture. The project, which specifically targets the agricultural sector, seeks to meet the demands of the labour market in the participating countries by involving partners from the public and private sector while developing cooperation with local higher educational institutions. 

Partners: This MPF project is implemented by Maastricht University - Maastricht School of Management (the Netherlands) in collaboration with Aeres Green Education Group (the Netherlands).  

Our partners in the three involved countries are: Hawassa University in Ethiopia, Kafrelsheikh University in Egypt and Institute Supèrieur Agronomique de Chott Mariem and Agence de la Vulgarisation et de la Formation Agricoles (CSFPA and LSFPAAV) in Tunisia. 

 Countries: The Netherlands, Tunisia, Egypt and Ethiopia  

 Time frame: June 2023 – May 2027 (48 months) 

Activities

Pre-Departure Training (outside the Netherlands): 
Prior to departure, the project will offer innovative in-country training for students and young workers who wish to participate in the skills enhancement program. The training will be created through collaboration between Dutch educational institutions and those in the partner countries to ensure its effectiveness and relevance. This collaboration will promote the development of needs based curricula and strengthen the capacity of local educational institutions to offer more market-oriented skills and competences to young workers seeking (self-) employment in the horticulture sector. With specific attention for the training of professional tasks related to production management, post-harvest management and sales and marketing. 
 
Training/internship in the Netherlands: 
During the so-called mobility phase, MOBILISE will train 120 participants with a three-months internship/training program in the Netherlands. The training program will include practical training elements on high-tech plant production systems, product quality, research applied to current and future horticultural practices, as well as sessions dedicated to personal professional development. These trainings takes place at Aeres University of Applied Science in Dronten.  Participants in the training courses will receive a certificate awarded in cooperation with leading institutions in the field of agricultural innovation in the Netherlands and the partner countries. 
 
Career development and incubation (outside the Netherlands): 
After the period in the Netherlands, the project has a unique in-country incubation return program. 30 local staff members - 10 from each partner country - will be trained to implement return assistance and give entrepreneurship support. A career development assistance package will be designed and delivered, including network and relationship building and employment search support.  
 
Cross-Cutting Activities: 
Needs assessments and research studies will be conducted for the participating countries. These will shed light on the needs for and available supply of skilled human resources in the horticulture markets, the role and functioning of the education system and the horticulture value chain, the main private sector actors and potential for new market entrants. Furthermore, multi-stakeholder coordination platforms will be established in each partner country. These will involve institutions responsible for talent development, employment, international mobility and the private sector to ensure alignment with labour market needs and, finally, training institutions that will be responsible for implementing the talent development program. 

Internship

Part of the training program will be an internship at horticulture companies or arable farms in The Netherlands. To provide students the possibility to gain practical experience. 

Students: Candidates are third year Bachelor students from partner institutes in Ethiopia, Egypt, or Tunisia. Or third year BTS (Dutch MBO) students. 

Period: The internship will take place in July, August and September. During this period, students will spend two weeks at Aeres University campus in Dronten (1st – 5th of July and 28th of August– 1st of September) for specific training and internship preparation. 

Costs: Companies are expected to contribute to costs of living (minimum 450 euro/month), accommodation and local transport. 

Assignments: Besides participating in the daily activities in the different departments of the company, students will work on assignments with a focus on gaining knowledge about production management, post-harvest and sales and marketing.  

Contact person: Daan Westrik, Aeres University of Applied Sciences The Netherlands. email: d.westrik@aeres.nl