In-country meetings in preparation for departure

In June 2024, the MOBILISE Project Manager and Project Director embarked on a series of in-country meetings with partner institutions across multiple countries. This initiative aimed to evaluate the activities implemented in the first year of the project and to prepare the group of students set to depart for their overseas placements.

The two MSM coordinators began their journey at Kafrelsheik University (KFS) in Egypt, where they engaged with local staff, including Prof. Dr. Abdel-Razek Y. A. Desouky, University President, and Dr. Yahya Eid, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture. The discussions focused on strategic orientations for the cooperation in the upcoming months.

Following Egypt, Dr. Ir. Huub Mudde, Project Director, continued on to Ethiopia to visit Hawassa University. Concurrently, Stefano Locatelli, Project Manager, traveled to Chott Meriem in Tunisia to meet local partners from ISACM, CSFPA, and LSFPAAV.

In all three countries, the project management team had positive and fruitful meetings with local coordinators and university staff. These sessions involved a comprehensive review of the first cycle of program promotion, participant recruitment, selection processes, and the implementation of the in-country pre-departure program. Potential adjustments and improvements for future intakes were also discussed and will be further developed over the summer.

The visits included in-person meetings with the departing trainees, where project staff explained the matching process with Dutch companies and provided detailed insights into the program and individual schedules. The trainees expressed excitement about their imminent departure and were eager to learn more about life in the Netherlands.

To supplement the in-person briefings, a digital Handbook for the Traineeship in the Netherlands was shared with all participants. Additionally, MSM and Aeres University conducted a webinar on life and work in the Netherlands, further preparing the trainees for their upcoming experiences.