Côte d’Ivoire and the Canadian province of Quebec are exploring new areas of cooperation in technical and vocational education, including industrial training, mining, energy and work-study programmes, as the West African country seeks to strengthen workforce skills and improve youth employment.

Jean-Louis Moulot, Côte d’Ivoire’s deputy minister for technical education, held talks with Marie Montpetit, president and chief executive officer of the Federation of CEGEPs of Quebec, to discuss opportunities for collaboration in skills development.

The discussions focused on strengthening trainers’ skills, modernising training programmes and encouraging more girls to pursue technical and vocational careers.

The two sides also explored the development of work-study programmes involving Canadian companies, which would allow students to combine classroom learning with practical experience in the workplace.

Another proposal under discussion is the creation of a centre of excellence dedicated to mining-related occupations. The initiative would form part of broader efforts to develop specialised training in industrial maintenance, mining, energy and sustainable development.

The talks also examined the possibility of introducing joint Ivorian and Canadian qualifications, which could help facilitate the recognition of credentials and expand graduates’ professional opportunities.

The Federation of CEGEPs represents Quebec’s public network of general and vocational colleges, known as CEGEPs, which provide technical and pre-university education.

For Côte d’Ivoire, closer cooperation with Quebec could help align vocational training more closely with employers’ needs, particularly in sectors requiring specialised technical skills.

The proposed initiatives remain areas of cooperation under discussion. Their implementation will depend on the agreements reached by the relevant institutions and the development of concrete training programmes.