Working together for better educational and career guidance in Ethiopia

The department of Social Work kicks off the implementation phase of the APPEAR project with an international kick-off event

How can universities better support students in shaping their educational paths and professional futures independently? This is the question addressed by the APPEAR project, “Education and Vocation Counseling Training,” which recently launched its implementation phase with an international kick-off meeting.

The project aims to strengthen career and educational counseling at 15 Ethiopian universities in a sustainable manner. To this end, career counselors at the participating universities will receive targeted training and be supported with practical resources. The goal is for them to be even better equipped in the future to guide students in making educational decisions, providing career guidance, and facilitating the transition from college to the workforce.

The official project launch took place at Kotebe University of Education in Ethiopia. Representatives from the Ethiopian Ministry of Education, Kotebe University of Education, the Federal TVET Institute (FTVETI), the participating universities, and CEED coordinators (Centers for Employment and Entrepreneurship Development) from across the country came together to establish a common foundation for the project’s work. The project team from the department of Social Work at MCI | The Entrepreneurial School^® participated remotely.

In addition to getting to know one another, the focus was on the project’s objectives, current challenges in the Ethiopian higher education sector, and coordinating the next steps for implementation. The participants discussed how the planned training sessions could best align with existing structures and national priorities. In addition, participants in the training program - which begins this fall - received an initial overview of the content, schedule, and opportunities for active involvement.

As part of the kick-off event, the MCI department of Social Work made the following contributions: Belachew Gebrewold, head of department and studies, presented the project’s objectives and strategic framework, while Barbara Lill-Rastern, university professor, and Robert Koglek, senior lecturer, introduced the upcoming training week. The program was complemented by insights into existing professional profiles as well as an interactive exchange among the participating institutions.

For the department of Social Work, the project represents another building block in the international engagement of MCI | The Entrepreneurial School^®. It combines professional expertise in counseling, education, and social development with collaborative partnerships based on mutual respect. The focus is not only on imparting knowledge but also on building sustainable skills and structures at the partner universities.

Robert Koglek:

“Educational and career counseling open up new perspectives: They support young people in Ethiopia in making informed decisions and actively shaping their future paths. The project offers the opportunity to work with our partners to develop long-term, effective counseling services for students.”

The kick-off event laid the foundation for the upcoming training and exchange programs. The MCI department of Social Work looks forward to continuing its collaboration with the Ethiopian partner institutions and to the new ideas that will emerge from the project for universities, students, and their broader social context.