Bridging Training and Employment: Private Sector Led Cooperative Training Strengthens TVT Outcomes in Ethiopia

For Abyssinia Bedilu, a Level IV Hardware and Networking Service trainee at Teferi Mekonnen Polytechnic College, Technical and Vocational Training (TVT) was not a second option—it was a deliberate choice.

“TVT was my choice as I am more interested in doing practical things,” she explains.

That choice took on new meaning when she joined a cooperative training placement at Royal Business Group from November 2025 to January 2026, facilitated by the Ethio-German Sustainable Training and Education Programme (STEP IV). She was immersed in a real work environment, collaborating with professionals, handling practical tasks, and understanding how businesses operate.

“We got exposure on how to work with colleagues who have different expertise,” she says. The experience, she adds, “enhances the probability of getting employed,” as companies can observe trainees’ performance directly.

For Abyssinia, the transition from classroom learning to workplace application was transformative. It strengthened not only her technical skills but also her confidence and understanding of what it means to function in a professional environment. Her journey reflects a broader shift taking place in Ethiopia’s TVT system—one that is increasingly focused on bridging training with employment.

Strengthening the Relevance of TVT through Cooperative Training
One of the longstanding challenges in skills development has been the “skill mismatch” a gap between what trainees learn in institutions and what industries require in practice. Cooperative training is emerging as a practical solution to this challenge by embedding workplace learning into the training system. 

Strong and continuous private sector engagement is fundamental to ensuring the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of cooperative training, as it anchors training delivery in real labour market needs and industry practices, in line with the principles of demand-driven skills development.

Through partnerships with companies such as Africom Technologies, Birhanena Selam Printing Enterprise, Ethiopia Industrial Input Development Enterprise, MIDROC Investment Group, and Royal Business Group, trainees from Teferi Mekonnen Polytechnic College were placed in real work environments. These placements were designed to provide hands-on experience, allowing trainees to apply classroom knowledge, understand industry standards, and develop professional competencies.

The approach goes beyond technical instruction. It integrates practical exposure with learning, ensuring that trainees not only acquire knowledge but also understand how to use it effectively in real situations. As a result, training becomes more aligned with labour market demands, addressing one of the key barriers to employment.

Learning by Doing: From Theory to Practice
A defining feature of cooperative training is its emphasis on experiential learning. Instead of limiting training to classrooms and workshops, trainees are immersed in workplaces where they are expected to contribute, adapt, and learn.

This exposure enables trainees to engage with tools, systems, and processes that are often not available in institutional settings. It also introduces them to workplace expectations, including discipline, teamwork, and communication. Ensuring the integration of green and digital skills within cooperative training is essential for aligning the TVT system with current and future labour market demands, particularly in the context of technological advancement and the transition to greener economies.

Trainees who participated in the programme highlighted the value of this experience. Michael Alazar, trainee, noted that the placement provided exposure to “new technical skills that we couldn’t obtain in the college.” Tsebaot Mesfin emphasised learning “time management and work ethics,” pointing to the importance of professional skills alongside technical competence.

For Nebiyu Daniel, who completed his placement at Africom Technologies, the experience went even further. He described how the company trusted trainees with real systems and tasks, allowing them to explore and learn in a practical environment. “They allowed us to explore many new things,” he said, highlighting how this hands-on engagement helped build valuable skills for the future.

These reflections demonstrate that cooperative training is not simply an extension of classroom learning—it is a critical component of preparing trainees for the realities of the labour market.

Building Skills that Match Industry Demand
The relevance of TVT training depends on how closely it aligns with industry needs. Cooperative training strengthens this alignment by placing industries at the centre of the training process. This further underscores that meaningful and institutionalised private sector engagement is not optional but a critical pillar for quality cooperative training and for ensuring that all skills development programmes remain responsive to labour market dynamics.

A reflection session held on 17 March 2026 brought together trainees, industry representatives, and TVT leaders to assess the outcomes of the programme. The discussions highlighted how industry engagement enhances the quality of training and ensures that trainees acquire skills that are directly applicable in the workplace.

The Dean of Teferi Mekonnen Polytechnic College, Teshome Feissa, emphasised that collaboration with industries enables trainees to gain practical skills and understand labour market expectations. He noted that the initiative should be expanded so that more trainees can benefit from similar opportunities.

Addisalem Nega, Private Sector Engagement Component Manager at STEP IV, underscored the importance of private sector involvement. “Private sector engagement is no longer a nice to have add-on, it is the fundamental engine that drive quality and relevance and help sustainability of TVT systems in Ethiopia. And when industry and TVT institutions collaborate in such exemplary labour market-oriented qualification measures, the result is a workforce that is plug and play ready for the modern economy,” he stated, highlighting the need to continue and expand cooperative training across sectors.

By aligning training with industry demand, cooperative training ensures that graduates are not only qualified but also capable of performing effectively in their fields.

 Private Sector as a Critical Partner in Delivering Quality Cooperative Training and Skills Development
The success of cooperative training relies heavily on the active participation of the private sector. Companies are not only hosts for trainees but also key contributors to the training process.

Industry representatives highlighted the mutual benefits of this collaboration. Birhanu Mersha, ICT Director at Royal Business Group, noted that cooperation between companies and TVT colleges leads to improvements in graduate skills. He also emphasised that such partnerships help companies identify and recruit qualified employees that may also results to improve productivity and quality of a company product and service as well as reduce cost related to hiring and training new employees.

“We are happy to hire both of them [Abyssinia and Besufkad] as they have demonstrated their skills in their cooperative training with us,” he stated, pointing to the direct link between cooperative training and employment opportunities.

Similarly, Ahmed Zeynu, Human Resource Manager at Africom Technologies, described how the company integrated trainees into its operations. Although many ICT companies have concerns about potential risks, Africom Technologies allowed trainees to work with tools and systems, enabling them to gain meaningful experience.

“They worked as part of our team,” he explained, adding that the company has already identified promising trainees for future employment.

These examples demonstrate that cooperative training creates value for both trainees and companies. While trainees gain skills and experience, companies benefit from access to a pool of emerging talent aligned with their needs. To sustain impact, such partnerships need to be systematically strengthened and embedded within the TVT system, as private sector engagement is central to delivering high-quality cooperative training and achieving better employment outcomes.

 Strengthening Institutional Collaboration for Systemic Transformation
Cooperative training is not a standalone initiative—it is part of a broader effort to strengthen Ethiopia’s TVT system through coordinated action among institutions.

The Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS), in collaboration with STEP IV, has been working to integrate digital and green skills into training programmes. In today’s rapidly evolving labour market, green and digital skills are increasingly in high demand across sectors. Integrating these competencies into curricula and cooperative training materials ensures that trainees are equipped with relevant, future-oriented skills required by industries. This also contributes to global efforts such as SDG 13 on Climate Action by fostering an environmentally conscious and sustainability-oriented workforce capable of supporting green growth and climate-resilient development. 

This integration enhances trainees’ adaptability, employability, and capacity to contribute to sustainable and technology-driven economic development. By embedding these competencies within cooperative training, the TVT system plays a critical role in preparing a workforce that is not only employable but also responsible and responsive to environmental and technological challenges. Cooperative training complements these efforts by providing a platform for trainees to apply updated curricula in real-world settings.

Mesay Yakob from MoLS highlighted the importance of industry involvement in skills development. “There is no training without industries,” he stated, emphasising that collaboration with companies is essential to ensuring the relevance of training.

He further described the integration of cooperative training into the TVT system as a major milestone, noting that it strengthens the connection between training and labour market demand.

This coordinated approach—linking curriculum development, institutional training, and workplace experience—creates a more coherent and effective system for skills development.

Enhancing Employability through Experiencing Industries
One of the most significant impacts of cooperative training is its contribution to employability. By gaining experience in real work environments, trainees are better prepared to transition into employment. This not only enhances trainees’ employability but also prepares them to contribute to emerging green economies and climate-resilient development.

Abyssinia’s experience illustrates this clearly. Through her placement at Royal Business Group, she not only developed technical skills but also demonstrated her capabilities in a professional setting. This exposure increases her chances of employment, as companies can assess her performance directly.

Other trainees shared similar outcomes. Michael Alazar highlighted how the placement enabled him to acquire technical skills beyond what was available in college, while Tsebaot Mesfin emphasised the importance of learning workplace discipline and time management.

These experiences show that cooperative training helps trainees build a comprehensive skill set that combines technical competence with professional readiness—both of which are essential for employment.

 Transforming Perceptions of TVT through Cooperative Training
Beyond its technical and economic benefits, cooperative training also plays a role in changing perceptions of TVT in Ethiopia.

For many years, vocational training has been viewed as a secondary pathway compared to university education. However, initiatives like cooperative training demonstrate that TVT can provide direct and effective routes to employment.

By connecting training with real job opportunities, cooperative training highlights the value of practical skills and positions TVT as a viable and attractive option for young people.

Trainees who participate in such programmes gain confidence in their abilities and develop a clearer understanding of their career paths. This shift in perception is essential for strengthening the role of TVT in Ethiopia’s education and employment landscape.

A Model for Scaling Up
The experience from Teferi Mekonnen Polytechnic College provides a model that can be expanded across sectors and regions.

Stakeholders emphasised the importance of scaling up cooperative training, making it a standard component of TVT delivery. This requires continued collaboration between government institutions, training providers, and the private sector.

Zewditu Tsegaye, ICT Department Head at the college, highlighted that engaging industries is essential to improving training quality and ensuring that trainees are prepared for the next stage of their careers.

Mr. Nega Argaw from Addis Ababa Labor and Skills Bureau stated that the strong synergy among companies, trainees, and the college, supported by GIZ STEP, has proven effective and will be scaled up to further strengthen skills development in the ICT and other sectors.

By institutionalising cooperative training, Ethiopia can strengthen the overall effectiveness of its TVT system and ensure that it meets the needs of a growing and evolving economy.

Looking Ahead: Towards a Demand-Driven TVT System
As Ethiopia continues to advance its economic transformation, the need for a skilled and adaptable workforce is becoming increasingly important. Embedding green and digital skills within cooperative training further strengthens this approach by ensuring that the future workforce is equipped to meet both economic and environmental challenges

Cooperative training offers a practical pathway to meet this need. By linking training institutions with industry, it ensures that skills development is aligned with labour market demand.

For trainees like Abyssinia, it provides a gateway to employment. For companies, it offers access to skilled and motivated young professionals. And for the TVT system, it represents a shift towards a more responsive and demand-driven approach.

By strengthening partnerships, scaling up implementation, and embedding cooperative training into the system, Ethiopia is taking an important step toward building a workforce that is not only trained but truly prepared for the realities of the labour market.

The Ethio-German Sustainable Training and Education Programme is implemented on behalf of the German Government and co-financed by the European Union.

Authors: Daniel Zemichal, Seblewongel Haregewein and Mesfin Yitayih