INDMO, I.P. and CNEFP, I.P. Participate in ITECA2025 Conference in Adelaide

INDMO, I.P. | Mr Aquiles S. Guterres

Adelaide, Australia (02 April, 2025) – The Instituto Nacional para o Desenvolvimento da Mão-de-Obra (INDMO, I.P.) and the Centro Nacional de Emprego e Formação Profissional (CNEFP, I.P.) of Timor-Leste took part in the 2025 Independent Tertiary Education Conference Australia (ITECA2025), held from April 2 to 4 at the Hilton Adelaide.

The ITECA2025 Conference gathered policymakers, training providers, and education leaders from across Australia and beyond to explore current trends and innovative practices in the skills training, higher education, and international education sectors. A key theme of the event was building quality and responsive systems to meet the future demands of learners and the labor market.

The participation of the Timorese delegation was made possible through the generous support of the Northern Territory Government and the NT VET Community of Practice, reinforcing ongoing collaboration between Australia and Timor-Leste in the field of technical and vocational education and training (TVET). Led by Ms. Isabel Fernandes de Lima, CEO of INDMO, I.P., and Mr. Simão Tito Barreto, Director of CNEFP, I.P., the delegation attended a wide range of conference sessions, including the International Education Symposium.

The symposium highlighted global approaches to supporting international learners, enhancing institutional partnerships, and fostering resilience in vocational education systems.

“Our presence at ITECA2025 demonstrates Timor-Leste’s strong commitment to regional cooperation in technical and vocational education,” said Madam Isabel de Lima.

“We are here not only to learn from our Australian counterparts, but also to share our experiences and foster new partnerships that can support our vision for a skills-based economy.”

She added, “We are deeply grateful to the Northern Territory Government and the NT VET Community of Practice for sponsoring our participation. Their continued support reflects the spirit of solidarity and mutual learning that underpins our cooperation.”

Beyond the conference agenda, Director of INDMO, I.P and Director CNEFP conducted a series of visits to public and private sector institutions across South Australia. These included meetings with representatives from registered training organizations, industry partners, and government agencies to explore potential areas of collaboration, such as dual certification programs, trainer exchanges, and joint capacity building.

“Our visits to South Australian institutions have given us valuable insights into how industry-linked training systems operate,” said Mr. Simão Tito Barreto.

“We see a lot of opportunity to build practical partnerships that will help enhance the quality and relevance of our own national training centers in Timor-Leste.”

A key highlight of ITECA2025 was the keynote address delivered by Mr. Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia, who stressed the importance of collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of learning and workforce readiness.The participation of INDMO, I.P. and CNEFP in ITECA2025 reflects Timor-Leste’s growing commitment to reforming and modernizing its vocational training system. It also supports INDMO, I.P.’s institutional mandate to build a strong National Qualifications System through international benchmarking, quality assurance, and strategic engagement with regional partners.