As part of Work Package 3 of the HOST-EG project, aimed at promoting the transformation of Equatorial Guinean universities into entrepreneurial institutions that foster employability in sustainable tourism, new Employability Council Units have been established at the Afro-American University of Central Africa (AAUCA) and the National University of Equatorial Guinea (UNGE).

These new units mark a significant step forward in strengthening university policies to boost employment opportunities and entrepreneurship. Inspired by the evolution of career development centers in higher education, their mission is to provide support to students, encouraging the creation of innovative and sustainable projects that contribute to the country’s economic and social development.

Entrepreneurship, regarded as a key pathway to improving employability, plays a central role in this initiative. Through mentoring, personalized guidance, and practical training, the units will offer tools to help students transform ideas into viable and sustainable business projects, with a special focus on the tourism sector. They will also promote the rigorous design of business plans, the validation of business models, and the adoption of responsible tourism principles, balancing economic growth with cultural and environmental preservation.

At AAUCA, the Entrepreneurship, Employability, and Council Unit has been established within the Faculty of Economic and Business Sciences. Its creation was formalized through an official communication issued by the Rector and the Dean of the Faculty. The unit was officially inaugurated on January 13, 2025, coinciding with the mid-term meeting of the HOST-EG project held at the university. The event was attended by institutional representatives, project coordinators, and 33 participants, who took part in the official opening and presentation of the new unit.

Meanwhile, UNGE has created the Entrepreneurship Council Unit, whose establishment required the approval of Resolution 001/2025 of January 21, signed by the university’s Rector. This resolution formally defines the unit’s structure and functioning, recognizing it as a permanent university body. Its first office is located on the Bata campus, within the Faculty of Humanities and Religious Sciences, where the Degree in Tourism and Cultural Heritage Management is offered. The unit was officially inaugurated on January 31, 2025, with the unveiling of a plaque identifying the space.

With the launch of these units, AAUCA and UNGE strengthen their commitment to the comprehensive education of their students by providing spaces for guidance and support that promote innovation, self-employment, and sustainability as core elements of university and national development.

This initiative is part of the HOST-EG project, funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission.