The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA) and the Ministry of Labor and Skills (MoLS) co-organized a workshop on the eve of International Labor Day at Holeta Polytechnic College (HPC) aiming at catalyzing strategic TVET-industry collaboration to bridge skill gaps, foster exchanges and leverage available huge resources for mutual gains.
With the participation of MoLS representatives, HPC officials, EHPEA Executive Director, staffs of EHPEA Training Center and EHPEA member farms from Holeta cluster, the day-long activities involve a round table discussion, touring World Bank-supported HPC Center of Excellence projects, HPC demo farm plots and field visits to two EHPEA member farms.
During the tours on the premises of the College, the participants visited the World Bank-supported EASTRIP project of dairy and fruit processing facilities as well as modern demonstration plots including greenhouse and irrigation system.
The HPC Center of Excellence is supported by the World Bank through the East Africa Skills for Transformation and Regional Integration Project (EASTRIP).
Stating that the HPC Center of Excellence serves the very demand of the cluster in Holeta of flowers, strawberry, herbs and nursery, EHPEA Executive Director Tewodros Zewdie, said the event was convened to reinforce potential collaboration between the College and the industry to properly utilize the resources on which wealth of knowledge and other assets have been invested by the Government, development partners, the College and individual experts.
Stating that there are a number of farms operating with state of the art technologies and facilities also with the demand to skilled human power, Tewodros re-emphasized the need to forge strong collaboration with the well-supported Polytechnic College accompanied by the supportive policy framework.
With the mature industry, the well-supported Polytechnic College and the policy framework, the Executive Director indicated the need to have the legal and operational framework for better partnership that could be an exemplary model in the country and on the African continent as well.
Mentioning the Dutch collaboration model, ‘the Triple Helix’ (Golden Triangle), the strategic partnership between the industry, the research/educational institutions and the government for thriving in the horticulture industry, Tewodros called for commitment from each actor to have the missing ingredient in the country and realize mutual gains.
“The Government is ready to support; the Farms are there; the College is there; the infrastructure is there; the missing ingredient is defining the details of engagement and implanting it,” noted the Executive Director.
Noting that today’s event is a genuine turning point, Kalkidan Tadesse, EASTRIP Project Coordinator at MoLS, highlighted on the significant role the HPC Center of Excellence plays in the country’s horticulture in particular and the agriculture sector in general.
“For long time, TVET institutions and industry players have been operating in parallel rather than together, and the impact of that disconnect has been clear in the skills gap we continue to face. What stood out today was the shift from discussion to practical commitment — a real “walk the talk” moment,” says Kalkidan.
She also noted that HPC’s initiative to open up collaboration through the learning factory, greenhouse facility, and arable land creates a strong foundation for partnership.
Indicating that consistency and follow-through is the key issue, Kalkidan also said “Today showed what is possible when both sides engage with intent. The real impact will come from turning these commitments into ongoing, structured collaboration,” she said.”
“These are not just concepts; they are practical platforms where industry can directly shape training, and where trainees can gain hands-on, relevant experience,” says Kalkidan, adding, “If this momentum is sustained, this kind of collaboration can significantly narrow the skills gap by aligning training with real market needs. It also creates a pathway to unlock the underutilized potential in the horticulture and broader agriculture sector — not just in productivity, but in creating a workforce that is ready to contribute from day one,” she underlines.
Reiterating the huge resource of the institution, Mulugeta Abera, HPC Dean, called for impactful partnership from the industry, for which he expressed the College’s committed readiness to initiate and keep forward the collaboration.
Dwelling on the huge role the private sector plays in driving nations’ development through strategic partnership with educational institutions, Teshome Lemma (PhD), Senior Advisor to MoLS State Minister, underlined on the need for the industry to actively collaborate and engage with the College towards mutual gains and ultimately realize the country’s development and growth.
Representatives of participating farms have expressed their respective readiness and commitment to imitating and strengthening the proposed collaboration with the College.
A seven-member working group was formed to chart out ways how the discussion goes practical and realize the aspired collaboration which ultimately benefits all parties.
During the tours to the two strawberry farms, Metrolux and Beeco Agro Industry, participants have visited the farms improved horticultural production, compost preparation, irrigation, and packaging among others.
Officials and staffs from the College also seized the opportunity to see the farms’ large scale operations and also ways of cooperation in the future.
