The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will organise a Skills Interface for the Beverage Manufacturing Sector on 02 June 2026. This initiative forms part of the HRDC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between industry and the education and training ecosystem, while ensuring that skills development interventions remain aligned with the evolving needs of the country.

The session will bring together operators from the Beverage Manufacturing sector, industry associations, training institutions, universities and key stakeholders to discuss current workforce challenges and identify practical, sector-driven responses. The forum will focus on developing actionable training solutions that address operational realities within the sub-sector and support the development of a skilled, adaptable and sustainable workforce.

Objective of the Interface

The Skills Interface aims to:

·       Map the current and emerging skills needs within the beverage manufacturing sector, including occupations and areas experiencing skills shortages;

·    Strengthen collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to better align training provision with industry demand;

·        Identify short, targeted training opportunities that may be supported under the HRDC’s skills development schemes;

·   Promote innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes with a focus on employability, upskilling and workforce adaptability;

·        Identify practical measures to reduce skills mismatches and bridge gaps between industry requirements and training provision; and

·        Come up with sectoral proposals for co-designed training programmes that respond to common needs across operators.

Structure of the Session

The Skills Interface will be organised around three focused segments:

Session 1 – Industry Outlook

Industry operators, associations and relevant stakeholders will outline the current state of the beverage manufacturing sector, including workforce challenges, priority occupations, emerging competency requirements and trends shaping the industry.

Discussions will cover areas such as product development, premiumisation, export markets, customer preferences, branding, sustainability, regulatory requirements and evolving staffing structures.

Session 2 – Training Supply

Training institutions and universities will present relevant programmes, certifications and delivery approaches that can support skills development within the sub-sector. The session will also examine whether existing training provision is sufficiently aligned with industry requirements, particularly in areas such as production, distillation, fermentation, bottling, packaging, quality control, compliance, maintenance, logistics and export-related functions.

Session 3 – Joint Deliberation

A structured dialogue between employers, industry representatives and training providers will be held to:

·        Identify critical skills gaps, occupational shortages and training bottlenecks;

·        Discuss skills that are currently developed internally due to limited formal training provision;

·        Propose practical, hands-on and customised training interventions;

·        Identify common training needs that may be addressed through a clustered sectoral approach;

·        Recommend measures to support long-term workforce sustainability; and

·        Define short- and medium-term priorities that may be supported through HRDC skills development schemes.

Key Discussion Themes

The deliberations will be guided by six main themes:

1. Sector Evolution and Future Direction

Changes in product development, premiumisation, export markets, sustainability, quality standards, customer preferences and branding.

2. Skills and Occupational Shortages

Roles that are difficult to recruit or retain, including technical production, quality assurance, laboratory work, maintenance, bottling, packaging, compliance, logistics and export-related functions.

3. Production Technology, Process Control and Quality Standards

Skills required to operate, maintain and troubleshoot modern equipment and systems in distillation, fermentation, bottling, packaging and quality control.

4. Training Alignment and Practical Exposure

Gaps between current training provision and industry expectations, including the practical and work-based exposure required by new recruits.

5. Emerging and Evolving Job Profiles

New and evolving roles in sensory evaluation, product development, export compliance, sustainability reporting, automation, laboratory testing and brand or market development.

6. Skills Development Schemes and Training Projects

Identification of short-term and medium-term training programmes that could be mounted under HRDC schemes, including programmes for both new recruits and existing workers.

Through this Skills Interface, the HRDC continues to facilitate structured engagement between industry and training stakeholders with the objective of moving from dialogue to implementation. The expected outcome is to identify priority skills gaps, training needs and concrete project ideas that can support the long-term competitiveness and sustainability of the local beverage manufacturing sector.

An initiative of EDB, NPCC in collaboration with HRDC

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC), in collaboration with the Economic Development Board (EDB) and the National Productivity and Competitiveness Council (NPCC), will officially launch the Lean Manufacturing Capacity-Building Programme for exporting SMEs and mid-market enterprises on 11 May 2026 under the Sectoral Skills Development Scheme (SSDS). 

The initiative aims to boost the competitiveness of Mauritian manufacturing enterprises by improving productivity, efficiency, and the adoption of modern manufacturing practices.

The programme will support 35 enterprises across key sectors and is based on the International Labour Organisation (ILO) SCORE methodology. It will begin with a 2-day training on core Lean tools, followed by on-site implementation support for selected enterprises to ensure practical application and measurable improvements.

The launch event will mark the start of the first training session and the rollout of the programme, which is expected to reduce waste, enhance product quality, and strengthen continuous improvement practices across the manufacturing sector.

The launching ceremony will be held as follows:

Date:     11 May 2026        
Time:     09 30 hrs 
Venue:   EDB, Ebène 

Employers are hereby notified of the revised deadlines for submitting G3 Grant Applications to claim refunds of licence fees under the E-Learning Licence Scheme.

Applications must be submitted according to the completion period of the e-learning course:

01 January to 30 June:    Submission deadline is 15 October of the same year.
01 July to 31 December:   Submission deadline is 15 April of the following year.

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The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will convene a dedicated Skills Interface for the Food Manufacturing subsector on 10 April 2026. This initiative forms part of HRDC’s continued efforts to strengthen collaboration between industry and the education and training ecosystem, while ensuring that skills development interventions remain responsive to the evolving needs of the Mauritian economy.

The session will bring together operators from the Food Manufacturing industry, public and private training institutions and other key stakeholders to examine current workforce challenges and identify practical, sector-driven responses. The forum will focus on developing actionable training solutions that address operational realities within the sector and support the development of a skilled and sustainable workforce.

Objectives of the Interface

The Skills Interface will aim to:
•  Provide an overview of current and emerging skills needs in the Food Manufacturing subsector, including areas experiencing skills shortages;
•   Strengthen collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to better align training provision with industry demand;
•   Promote innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with a focus on employability and workforce upskilling;
•   Identify practical measures to reduce skills mismatches and bridge gaps between industry requirements and training provision; and
•  Encourage the development or enhancement of training programmes through greater awareness and effective use of HRDC skills development schemes.

Structure of the Session

The Skills Interface will be organised around three focused segments:

Session 1 – Industry Outlook
Industry operators, ministries and relevant stakeholders will outline current workforce challenges, priority occupations and emerging competency requirements in the Food production subsector.

Session 2 – Training Supply
Training institutions will present relevant programmes, certifications and delivery approaches that support skills development within the sector.

Session 3 – Joint Deliberation
A structured dialogue between employers and training providers aimed at:
•    Identifying critical skills gaps and training bottlenecks;
•    Proposing practical, industry-driven training interventions;
•    Recommending measures to support long-term workforce sustainability; and
•    Defining short- and medium-term priorities that may be supported through HRDC schemes.

Event Information

Venue: HRDC, 4th Floor, Lecture Room, Ebène
Date: Friday, 10 April 2026
Time: 09:30 – 12:00

Through this Skills Interface, HRDC continues to facilitate structured engagement between industry and training stakeholders, with the objective of strengthening skills development pathways and supporting the long-term competitiveness of the Mauritian Food Manufacturing sector.

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will organise a Skills Interface for the Textiles subsector on Friday, 27 March 2026. This initiative forms part of the HRDC’s ongoing efforts to strengthen collaboration between Industry and Academia/Education, and to ensure that skills development initiatives remain closely aligned with the evolving needs of the Mauritian economy.

The session will bring together operators from the textiles industry, public and private training institutions, and key stakeholders to examine current workforce challenges and identify practical, sector-driven responses. The forum will focus on developing actionable training solutions that address operational realities within the sector and support the development of a skilled and sustainable workforce.

Objectives of the Interface

The Skills Interface will aim to:
•    Provide an overview of current and emerging skills needs in the Textiles subsector, including areas experiencing skills shortages;
•    Strengthen collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to better align training provision with industry demand;
•   Promote innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with a focus on employability and workforce upskilling;
•    Identify practical measures to reduce skills mismatches and bridge gaps between industry requirements and training provision; and
•  Encourage the development or enhancement of training programmes through greater awareness and effective use of HRDC skills development schemes.

Structure of the Session
The Skills Interface will be organised around three focused segments:

Session 1 – Industry Outlook
Industry operators, ministries and relevant stakeholders will outline current workforce challenges, priority occupations and emerging competency requirements in the Textiles subsector.

Session 2 – Training Supply
Training institutions will present relevant programmes, certifications and delivery approaches that support skills development within the sector.

Session 3 – Joint Deliberation
A structured dialogue between employers and training providers aimed at:
•    Identifying critical skills gaps and training bottlenecks;
•    Proposing practical, industry-driven training interventions;
•    Recommending measures to support long-term workforce sustainability; and
•    Defining short- and medium-term priorities that may be supported through HRDC schemes.

Event Information
Venue:     HRDC, 4th Floor, Lecture Room, Ebène
Date:        Friday, 27 March 2026
Time:       09 30 hrs – 12 00 hrs

Through this Skills Interface, HRDC continues to facilitate structured engagement between industry and training stakeholders, with the objective of strengthening skills development pathways and supporting the long-term competitiveness of the Mauritian textiles sector.

As part of the Skills Interface series, the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is now organising a session dedicated to the Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO) sub-sector. This interface aims to foster dialogue among key stakeholders to address current and emerging skills needs, workforce gaps and develop appropriate skills development programmes that would respond effectively to industry requirements.

Event Details:
Date:        Thursday 26 March 2026 
Time:        10 00 hrs to noon
Venue:      HRDC Lecture Theatre, 4th Floor, NG Tower, Ebène

Some 20 key stakeholders from the ITO sub-sector, including industry representatives, education and training providers and relevant institutions, have been invited to participate in the discussions.

The organisation of the Skills Interface follows deliberations of the ICT Sectoral Committee, which highlighted a growing demand for ICT-related training across multiple sectors, particularly given the cross-cutting nature of ICT skills across the economy. 

The ICT sector comprises two distinct sub-sectors, namely Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), each characterised by its own operational models, client profiles and skills requirements. In recognition of these differences, the HRDC organised a skills interface for the BPO sub-sector which was held on 27 January 2026. 

The interface is conducted in an interactive roundtable format to encourage open dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring that discussions remain focused and relevant to the specific realities of each sub-sector.

The expected outcomes of the Skills Interface include a shared understanding of skills needs within the ICT sector, clear identification of priority skills and existing gaps, strengthened collaboration between industry and education and training providers, and increased awareness of barriers affecting skills development. The discussions will also provide a basis for the development of skills development projects and initiatives, culminating in a consolidated report with action points for short-term interventions and medium-term programmes which will be shared with key stakeholders.

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will organise a Skills Interface for the Private Clinics subsector on 05 March 2026. This session will bring together clinic operators, healthcare professionals, and representatives from public and private training institutions. The aim is to discuss workforce challenges and identify practical training solutions that match the skills needs of private clinics in Mauritius.

The forum is intended to move beyond general discussion and will focus on concrete, implementable training solutions that respond to operational constraints, quality standards and patient care requirements within private clinical settings.

Objectives of the forum

The session aims to:
•    Present an overview of current and anticipated skills needs in the Healthcare Services subsector, including areas of skills scarcity;
•    Strengthen collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to ensure better alignment between training provision  and industry demand;
•    Promote innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with emphasis on employability and quality of care;
•    Identify concrete measures to reduce skills mismatch and close gaps between industry requirements and academic provision; and
•    Encourage the development of new or enhanced training programmes through awareness and effective use of HRDC skills development

 schemes.

Structure of the forum

The forum will include three main sessions:

Session 1: Industry Outlook

Clinic operators, ministries and other stakeholders will share information on staffing challenges, priority occupations, and emerging competency requirements in private clinics.

Session 2 – Training Programmes

Training institutions will present relevant programmes, certifications and delivery modes applicable to the Private Clinics subsector.

Session 3 – Joint Deliberation

A structured dialogue between employers and training providers to:
•    Identify critical skills gaps and training bottlenecks;
•    Propose practical training solutions that can be implemented in clinics;
•    Recommend measures to enhance workforce sustainability; and
•    Define short- and medium-term priorities that may be supported under HRDC schemes.

Event details

Venue:     HRDC, 4th Floor, Lecture Room, Ebène 
Date:        Thursday, 05 March 2026
Time:        09 30 hrs – 12 00 hrs

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will organise a Skills Interface on 20 February 2026, bringing together key stakeholders from the care homes subsector to address current and emerging workforce challenges in Mauritius. This workshop aims to move beyond discussion and focus on practical, actionable training solutions aligned with sector realities.

Objectives of the Workshop

The main objectives of the Skills Interface Platform are to:

• provide an overview of the current and emerging skills needs within the medical laboratories subsector, including an updated list of skills scarcity areas;
• foster collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to better align curricula and training programmes with industry requirements;
• encourage innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with a focus on enhancing employability;
• identify practical ways to bridge the gap between industry and academia, thereby contributing to the reduction of skills mismatch in the sector; and
• propose new training and skills development programmes through the sharing of information on HRDC skills development schemes.Objectives of the Workshop
  The workshop will:
  •    Present an overview of current and anticipated skills needs in the care homes subsector, including updated areas of skills scarcity;
  •    Strengthen collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to ensure better alignment between training provision and industry demand;
  •    Promote innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with emphasis on employability and quality of care;
  •    Identify concrete measures to reduce skills mismatch and close gaps between industry requirements and academic provision; and
  •    Encourage the development of new or enhanced training programmes through awareness and effective use of HRDC skills development schemes

Structure of the Workshop

The workshop will be organised into three focused sessions:

Session 1 – Industry Perspective
Employers and industry operators will outline current workforce challenges, recruitment constraints, and priority skill requirements within the care homes subsector.

Session 2 – Training Provision
Public and private training providers will present existing qualifications and programmes relevant to the sector.

Session 3 – Interactive Dialogue
A joint discussion between employers, operators and training providers to:
•    Identify critical skills gaps;
•    Propose practical measures to address these gaps;
•    Recommend actions to strengthen collaboration between industry and training institutions; and
•    Define short- and medium-term training priorities that may be supported under HRDC schemes.

Event Details
Venue:  HRDC, 4th Floor, Lecture Room, Ebène
Date:     Friday, 20 February 2026
Time:    09 30 hrs – 12 00 hrs

Stakeholders in the care homes subsector are encouraged to participate and contribute to shaping a more responsive and sustainable skills development framework for the sector.

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) will organise a Skills Interface on 03 February 2026, bringing together key stakeholders to discuss human resource development needs and identify practical, implementable training solutions for the medical laboratories subsector in Mauritius.

Objectives of the Workshop

The main objectives of the Skills Interface Platform are to:

• provide an overview of the current and emerging skills needs within the medical laboratories subsector, including an updated list of skills scarcity areas;
• foster collaboration between employers, training institutions and universities to better align curricula and training programmes with industry requirements;
• encourage innovative approaches in the design and delivery of training programmes under existing skills development schemes, with a focus on enhancing employability;
• identify practical ways to bridge the gap between industry and academia, thereby contributing to the reduction of skills mismatch in the sector; and
• propose new training and skills development programmes through the sharing of information on HRDC skills development schemes.

Structure of the Workshop

The workshop will be conducted in three sessions:

Session 1:  Industry Perspective

Discussions by employers and industry operators on current skills requirements and workforce challenges in the medical laboratories subsector.

Session 2:  Training Provision
Discussions by public and private training providers outlining existing training programmes and qualifications available for the sector.

Session 3:  Interactive Discussion

A joint discussion between employers, industry operators and training providers to:
•    identify skills development gaps;
•    propose measures to address identified gaps;
•    recommend actions to strengthen industry–training provider linkages; and
•    identify short-term and medium-term skills development programmes that may be supported under HRDC schemes.

Event Details:
Venue:    HRDC Lecture Theatre, 4th Floor, NG Tower, Ebène 
Date:      Tuesday, 03 February 2026
Time:      09 15 hrs - 12 30 hrs

The Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) is kicking off its Skills Interface series, beginning with the Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industry. This interface aims to foster dialogue among key stakeholders to address current and emerging skills needs, workforce gaps and develop appropriate skills development programmes that would respond effectively to industry requirements.

Event Details:
Date:    Tuesday, 27 January 2026 
Time:    10 00 hrs 
Venue:  HRDC Lecture Theatre, 4th Floor, NG Tower, Ebène

Some 15 key stakeholders from the BPO industry, including industry representatives, education and training providers and relevant institutions, have been invited to participate in the discussions.

The organisation of the Skills Interface follows deliberations of the ICT Sectoral Committee, which highlighted a growing demand for ICT-related training across multiple sectors, particularly given the cross-cutting nature of ICT skills across the economy. 

The ICT sector comprises two distinct sub-sectors, namely Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) and Information Technology Outsourcing (ITO), each with its own operational models, client profiles and skills requirements. In recognition of these differences, the HRDC will organise two separate Skills Interfaces, starting with the BPO sub-sector, followed by a second one dedicated to the ITO sub-sector. Each platform will be conducted in an interactive roundtable format to encourage open dialogue, knowledge sharing and collaborative problem-solving, ensuring that discussions remain focused and relevant to the specific realities of each sub-sector.

The expected outcomes of the Skills Interface include a shared understanding of skills needs within the ICT sector, clear identification of priority skills and existing gaps, strengthened collaboration between industry and education and training providers, and increased awareness of barriers affecting skills development. The discussions will also provide a basis for the development of skills development projects and initiatives, culminating in a consolidated report with action points for short-term interventions and medium-term programmes which will be shared with key stakeholders.

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