Context
While there have been significant reforms to revitalise TVET in Mozambique, there are still challenges at the policy, system and local levels, particularly a lack of institutional capacity and capability. Through our Going Global Partnerships programme, we have worked directly with the TVET sector in Mozambique to support the country’s national policy aspiration of building a ‘quality, efficient and effective education system that responds to the needs of human development’. Using our experience of facilitating International Skills Partnerships, we have helped to build institutional capacity through the sharing of best practice and expertise between the UK and Mozambique.
Project overview
South Eastern Regional College, in Northern Ireland, partnered with three institutes of technical and professional education in Mozambique – Instituto Comercial de Maputo, Escola Técnica de Mumemo and Instituto Industrial e Comercial Eduardo Mondlane de Inhambane – to help build staff capacity and embed soft skills development in the travel, tourism and hospitality curriculum. The project was delivered in cooperation with SEETP (Secretaria de Estado do Ensino Técnico Profissional), the main government department responsible for TVET in Mozambique.
With all project partners located in key strategic areas for Mozambique tourism – Inhambane province having the greatest potential for tourism in Mozambique, and Maputo city and the wider Maputo province both offering potential for the blue economy and wildlife-based tourism – the partnership aimed to enhance the institutes’ role in supporting the national objective of developing young people’s tourism skills and encouraging self-employment.
Through the project, South Eastern Regional College shared their knowledge and experience of using project-based learning to develop trainee skills, and supported the Mozambique institutes to implement real-life projects where trainees could apply their skills in meaningful contexts.
Each institution selected a key pilot project to take forward – the development of a visitor centre at Escola Técnica de Mumemo, the creation of a popular culinary experience at Instituto Industrial e Comercial Eduardo Mondlane, and the design and development of a guided tour package for 18-to-35-year-olds at Instituto Comercial de Maputo. Through these projects, the trainees would develop their soft skills and work in collaboration with a range of external stakeholders.
Specialist project-based learning pedagogy mentors from South Eastern Regional College supported teachers at each institute to develop the mindset, skillset and toolset to embed the approach in their curriculum.
During their visit to Northern Ireland, the partners from Mozambique got to see first-hand how project-based learning is used at South Eastern Regional College to develop soft skills. They also strengthened their understanding of UK TVET practices, such as institutional governance, approaches to employer engagement and quality assurance, and how enterprise and entrepreneurship are embedded in curriculum.
While visiting Mozambique, South Eastern Regional College got to evaluate the implementation of the project-based learning projects, which all demonstrated an improvement in trainees’ relevant skillsets.
Impact
By embracing the project-based learning approach, the Mozambique partner institutes have improved their pedagogy and strengthened the pedagogical skills of their trainers, while trainees have increased their capacity to work in teams and solve real-life problems. The institutes have also developed stronger relationships with other institutions and enhanced employer engagement.
All three pilot projects successfully achieved their outcomes, and the partner institutes are now keen to explore how to apply their new pedagogical approaches to other curriculum areas.
For South Eastern Regional College, the opportunity to build strong connections with partners in Mozambique has paved the way for further exchanges and future collaboration, particularly in hospitality, travel and tourism.
‘We have learned so much from our three international partners, who have really inspired us. How far our partners and their students have come in such a short time is impressive.’ Diane Weatherup, Head of Learning Academy, South Eastern Regional College
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