ESTI Commissioner Advances Interregional Collaboration on Education and Skills Development During Mission to Spain from January 13-16, 2025
Barcelona, Spain — H.E. Professor Mohammed Belhocine, African Union Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology, and Innovation (ESTI), has concluded a mission to Spain, furthering collaboration in education and skills development. Undertaken at the invitation and under the leadership of OBREAL Global, the visit began on January 13 and concluded on January 16, 2025.
The mission represents a significant step in advancing the African Union’s vision under Agenda 2063 and its recently adopted Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 25-34). Upon arrival, the Commissioner was warmly received by OBREAL and the Minister for European Union and External Action of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Jaume Duch. During the reception, it was proposed to establish a Catalunya-Africa collaboration platform in the fields of education, science, technology and innovation bringing together universities, research centers, enterprises and public administrations. This platform shall contribute to the EU-AU strategic partnership and the 2025-2028 Africa Strategy of Spain and will build upon earlier engagements at the Interregional Dialogues on Education and Development held in Barcelona (2022), Buenos Aires (2023) and Addis Ababa (2024).
In this framework, discussions were held with key stakeholders, including among others, the Minister of Education and Vocational Training of the Generalitat de Catalunya, Mrs. Esther Niubó; the Rector of the University of Barcelona, Mr. Joan Guàrdia; the President of the Port of Barcelona, Mr. José Alberto Carbonell; and the Director of the International Department at Foment del Treball Nacional, Mr. Kilian García, representing Catalunya’s main employer federation. The discussions focused on strengthening public-private partnerships to drive innovation, economic development, and educational advancement.
The mission provided a platform for exploring collaborative opportunities in teacher mobility, professional development, multilingual education, artificial intelligence, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET). The Ministry of Education and Vocational Training of the Generalitat de Catalunya presented proposals highlighting areas such as teacher training, professional follow-up for educators, student exchange programs, and cooperation on international projects. These align closely with the African Union’s broader frameworks, including the Continental Technical and Vocational Education and Training Strategy (CTVET 25-34) and the Science, Technology, and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2034).
A key focus of the mission was the Pan-African University (PAU) and its Virtual and E-University (PAVEU), both central to the African Union’s efforts to transform education on the continent. Discussions centered on strengthening these initiatives through partnerships with Spanish institutions based in Catalunya such as the University of Barcelona and OBREAL, with an emphasis on curriculum development, faculty training, mobility programs, and the launching of joint PAU-UB academic and training programs.
During his visit, Commissioner Belhocine also toured the Port of Barcelona, where he explored innovative training programs in logistics and transport. These programs, showcasing a strong integration of education and industry needs, offer insights that could inform similar initiatives in Africa, particularly through collaboration with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and the Africa Skills Initiative (SIFA). SIFA focuses on equipping Africa’s youth with employment-oriented skills through partnerships with the private sector and innovative funding mechanisms.
The visit also served to formalize a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the African Union and OBREAL Global. The MoU will promote South-South and South-South-North cooperation and ensure the sustainability of joint initiatives such as the Interregional Dialogue on Education and Development. It outlines areas of focus, including technical and vocational education, artificial intelligence, multilingualism, teacher mobility, and joint fundraising efforts to support these objectives. The meeting with the OBREAL team also allowed to discuss strategic orientations for key EU funded projects and initiatives such as HAQAA3.
The priorities addressed during this mission align closely with the outcomes of the African Union’s fifth Specialized Technical Committee on Education, Science, and Technology (STC-EST 5), held in November 2024. At this landmark meeting, representatives from 48 Member States declared 2025–2034 as the Decade of Accelerated Education and Skills Development in Africa and adopted strategies such as CESA 25-34 and CTVET 25-34. These frameworks emphasize technical skills development, resilient education systems, and innovation, which form the foundation for many of the initiatives discussed during the Commissioner’s engagements in Spain. By fostering interregional partnerships that reflect these strategic goals, this mission demonstrates the African Union’s commitment to advancing sustainable development and transforming education systems across the continent.
For further information, please contact:
Ms Claudette Chancelle BILAMPASSI MOUTSATSI | ESTI Department- Pan African University | African Union Commission | E-mail: BilampassiC@africa-union.org | Tel: +251 11 518 2014/ +251 11 5182518 |
Mr. Gamal Eldin Ahmed A. Karrar | Senior Communication Officer | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: GamalK@africa-union.org | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia