Education and Vocational Counselling Training Project

About Education and Vocational Counselling Training Project

The Ethiopia Vocational Counselling and Training (EVCT) project is designed to address key challenges in Ethiopia’s higher education and labor market. Currently, students face limited personalized guidance and are often assigned to programs through algorithmic placement, contributing to a 60–70% unemployment rate after graduation. Employers further report significant skill gaps among graduates, highlighting a mismatch between education and labor market needs. EVCT proposes a comprehensive solution to these issues by developing certified training for counsellors and piloting innovative counselling approaches at three Universities of Applied Science. The project will establish an online toolbox and a national counsellor network, alongside developing job profiles aligned with labor market demands. Project Objectives include: Developing a certified counselling curriculum tailored to Ethiopian higher education needs. Creating an online toolbox to support students and counsellors. Piloting counselling programs in selected universities. Establishing a national counsellor network to ensure sustainability. Strengthening collaboration between universities and industries. Expected Outcomes are improved personalised counselling services, a sustainable national network of trained counsellors, enhanced alignment between education and labor market needs, and a reduction in graduate unemployment rates. EVCT contributes directly to advancing SDGs 1, 4, 5, and 8, fostering inclusive economic growth, quality education, gender equality, and decent work opportunities for all.