Education Minister Athina Michaelidou emphasized the urgent need for closer collaboration between higher education and the labor market during her address at the "Connecting Higher Education with Labour Market: Building the Future-Ready Workforce" conference in Nicosia, organized by the Directorate of Higher Education in cooperation with PwC Cyprus.

Minister Michaelidou assured attendees of the Ministry's commitment to forging a strong link between tertiary education and the labor market, and to empowering graduates and students with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities necessary to make substantial contributions to tomorrow's workforce.

To bridge this skills gap, the Minister highlighted the need for a collective and multifaceted approach among key stakeholders to ensure graduates are better prepared to meet the demands of the modern workforce.

According to Michaelidou, higher education institutions must first align their curricula to better reflect the evolving needs of the labor market. "This means equipping students not only with academic knowledge but also with practical and soft skills, such as problem-solving, communication, and teamwork, valued by employers. Additionally, there is a pressing need for institutions to foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship," she stated.

The Ministry of Education advocates prioritizing lifelong learning and skill upgrading to ensure individuals remain competitive in an evolving labor market where skills requirements change at an unprecedented pace due to technological innovation, automation, and the emergence of new professions.

"Through continuous education programs, we can enable individuals to adapt to changing labor demands and pursue meaningful career paths," Michaelidou added, emphasizing the need for equality, diversity, and inclusion within this approach to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality educational and training opportunities.

She also mentioned the importance of accurate and reliable information for decision-making, guiding educational and workforce development initiatives, and promoting equality and inclusion in the labor market.

Furthermore, the Ministry mentioned that the Department of Higher Education's efforts, as part of the Cyprus Recovery and Resilience Plan, aim to develop a central database on skill supply and demand.

"This mechanism," the Minister noted, "will enhance our ability to monitor skill supply and demand, assess the alignment between education needs and labor market requirements, identify emerging trends and challenges, and develop targeted policies to address the evolving needs of our labor market."