The three-day kick-off consortium meeting of the STRIPES project took place remotely during the third week of February 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 interaction, 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.

Lebanon is facing a humanitarian, economic and governmental crisis, especially among young people, which is leading to rising unemployment. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) can make an important contribution to the socio-economic development of the country by providing relevant skills for the labour market. To this end, two STRIPES Centres will be established under the STRIPES project to increase the capacity of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (T-VET) in Lebanon and to implement work-based learning programmes that link graduates to the labour market.

The STRIPES project will provide tailor-made training, workshops, study visits, co-design, training of mentors to support the establishment of STRIPES Centres and enable them to play an intermediary role between T-VET Centres, their students (internship) and graduates (employment) and the labour market. STRIPES aims to contribute to a positive image of T-VET education among students as well as stakeholders.