STRIPES Project Equips Physical Center to Enhance TVET Opportunities
The STRIPES project has successfully equipped its physical center in Lebanon, advancing its mission to improve TVET education and youth employability. The center offers career guidance, soft skills training, and links to private sector partners. STRIPES also introduced its goals to the INMAA education team, marking a new phase of collaboration to align TVET with industry needs and support sustainable employment.
STRIPES Leadership Development Workshop: Empowering Stripes Centers Staff to Enhance Job Readiness for TVET Graduates
From February 12 to 14, 2025, the STRIPES Leadership Development Workshop was held in Istanbul, bringing together 10 participants from key organizations. Funded by the EU, the workshop aimed to strengthen leadership and collaboration among staff supporting TVET graduates’ job readiness. Sessions covered strategic goal setting (SMART model), the McKinsey 7-S framework, and change management models (Lewin’s, Kotter’s). The event reinforced a commitment to equipping TVET graduates with employability skills, strengthening private sector partnerships, and advancing career opportunities in Lebanon.
Education Amid Crisis: Supporting Displaced Youth in Lebanon Through TVET and Humanitarian Efforts
The recent conflict in Lebanon has left behind a profound humanitarian crisis, with internally displaced persons (IDPs) among the most affected. While the violence has ceased, its aftermath continues to strain essential services, including education. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), already under-resourced, faces significant challenges in addressing the needs of displaced youth. CIS College has responded by providing shelter and basic necessities during the crisis and is now focused on ensuring the continuity of education for affected students. Through collaborations with NGOs and fundraising efforts, the institution aims to restore access to vocational training, equipping youth with essential skills for rebuilding their lives and contributing to Lebanon’s recovery.
Changing Narratives to Elevate TVET Education in Lebanon
In Lebanon, TVET (Technical and Vocational Education and Training) faces a persistent challenge: stereotypes that undervalue its potential. Yet, transforming these narratives is critical to addressing youth unemployment and meeting labor market demands. How do you change perceptions of something so vital yet so often undervalued?
VU Amsterdam Team Welcomes Lebanese Colleagues for the EU-Funded STRIPES Project
Last week, the VU team welcomed colleagues from Lebanon and Slovenia as part of the EU-funded STRIPES project. This initiative builds on previous efforts, including the ‘Brighter Futures’ project (2020-2023), during which VU Amsterdam collaborated with CIS College, Lebanon’s largest Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) institution, and INMAA, an educational non-governmental organization (NGO). IRADA and Berytech are involved in the partnership as representatives of the Lebanese private sector. IRI UL from Slovenia offers its expertise in university-industry collaboration to support Lebanese organizations. The collaboration seeks to ensure that vocational education aligns with industry needs, thereby improving employment opportunities for graduates.
Yara Kabalan Wins STRIPES Logo Competition
Yara Kabalan, a graphic design student at CIS Group Lebanon, won the STRIPES logo competition with an elegant and meaningful design. The competition, launched on February 21, saw over 20 entries, narrowed down to 6 by the CIS College’s department of arts committee. Yara’s logo, summarizing teamwork, employment, the physical center, and training aspects, was chosen through a voting process involving project partners. Her passion for visually expressing concepts shone through, and she dreams of becoming a professional in fine arts. This win contributes to the STRIPES project’s brand identity and its impact on the community.
STRIPES Project Consortium Kick-Off Meeting
The three-day kick-off consortium meeting of the STRIPES project took place remotely during the thrid week of Februrary 2024 (13th, 14th and 16th). initiated in December 2023, the STRIPES project includes partners from Lebanon (CIS College, INMAA, IRADA in Berytech), the Netherlands (Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam), and Slovenia (IRI UL). Despite the lack of face-to-face interacion, the meeting maintained high quality. We dedicated time to getting to know each other and also engaged in planning, idea-sharing, and discussions about project’s direction.