The Cyprus University of Technology (CUT) was selected to participate, through its Career Office, in the European project EUSEEDS (Enable, Upgrade and Spread Employability, Entrepreneurship and Digital Skills), which is co-funded by the European Union under the Interreg NEXT MED programme.
The main objective of the project is to address youth unemployment in the Eastern Mediterranean region through the creation and operation of 24 university Employability Centers across countries in the region. As part of the project, one of these centers will operate at CUT.
The Employability Centers will contribute to strengthening the professional integration of students and graduates, developing entrepreneurial and digital skills, and supporting vulnerable groups of young people. Through targeted training programmes, more than 7,000 individuals, including students and young graduates, are expected to be trained in digital and soft skills as well as entrepreneurship, helping to bridge the gap between higher education and labour market needs.
At the same time, the project will offer training opportunities to members of the local community who belong to vulnerable groups, enhancing their digital literacy and their ability to participate in the labour market. Through inclusive, scalable, and sustainable interventions, EUSEEDS aims to equip young people with the necessary tools to gain access to employment or develop their own entrepreneurial initiatives, while strengthening economic inclusion and the resilience of societies in the region.
The proposal submission was coordinated by the CUT International Cooperation Office, which was responsible for preparing the proposal file, coordinating internal procedures, and liaising with the Agence Universitaire de la Francophonie (AUF) and the project partners. The project is implemented in five countries of the Eastern Mediterranean — Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine — while 24 universities were selected following a strict evaluation process based on the expected impact, institutional commitment, and sustainability of the interventions. In Cyprus, two universities were selected, including the Cyprus University of Technology.
The project foresees the creation or upgrading of University Employability and Digital Skills Centers, aiming to enhance the career prospects of students and graduates, cultivate skills that respond to modern economic needs, and support young people from vulnerable social groups.