Vocational training and lifelong learning are vital tools for meeting labour market needs, particularly in fast-changing sectors such as the automotive industry, Labour and Social Insurance Minister Marinos Mousiouttas said during the graduation and awards ceremony of the AMEC Automotive & Motorsport Engineering Center.
According to a ministry statement, Mousiouttas congratulated graduates of the Master Technicians – Specialist Diagnostics programme, the City & Guilds Level 4 Hybrid and Electric Vehicles programme, and technicians certified as Level 4 Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Technicians under the Human Resource Development Authority's vocational qualifications system.
He also congratulated students of the City & Guilds Level 3 Light Vehicle Maintenance and Repair programme who received awards and scholarships.
The minister said the transition to electric mobility presents both challenges and significant employment opportunities, as electric and hybrid vehicles, high-voltage systems and advanced safety technologies require trained and certified professionals.
Training, assessment and certification of electric and hybrid vehicle technicians are crucial for safeguarding worker health and safety, protecting consumers, improving service quality and establishing professional standards, he added.
Mousiouttas highlighted the fact that AMEC is the first Vocational Qualifications Assessment Centre in Cyprus to complete assessments for the professional qualification standard of Hybrid and Electric Vehicle Technician.
He said the achievement aligns with the ministry's priorities of upgrading human capital, enhancing employability and strengthening links between training programmes and labour market needs.
Referring to the role of the Human Resource Development Authority (HRDA) and the Vocational Qualifications System, he described them as pivotal in recognising and certifying professional skills, benefiting both individual workers and the competitiveness of the sector.
Addressing graduates, the minister said their qualifications would serve as a valuable foundation for careers marked by continuous learning, development and new challenges.
“Behind every job you undertake lies a person's trust and, often, their very safety,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Mousiouttas again congratulated the graduates, award recipients, AMEC management and instructors, while encouraging young people, employees and businesses to continue investing in knowledge and skills development, describing it as “the best investment for the future.”
Source: CNA
