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Cyprus HRDA Launches Pivotal EU-Funded Training Initiative for NEETs

The Human Resource Development Authority of Cyprus (HRDA) has embarked on a major initiative aimed at transforming the prospects of young people classified as NEETs (not in education, employment, or training). Through a public tender process, HRDA has formalized an agreement with the M.M.C Management Center Ltd and EDITC Ltd Consortium to implement comprehensive training programmes across Cyprus.

EU-Funded Programme Under the Cohesion Policy

The project, entitled “Training Programmes For Young People Not In Education, Employment Or Training (NEETs),” is executed under the Cohesion Policy Programme “Thalia 2021-2027” and benefits from co-funding by the European Union. The initiative is set to reach 2,800 young individuals across all provinces, with a target completion date of October 15, 2028.

Comprehensive Curriculum Designed For Modern Workforce Demands

The training modules have been meticulously designed to cover essential areas, ranging from fundamental linguistic and mathematical proficiency to advanced horizontal skills. These horizontal competencies include communication, problem-solving, critical thinking, teamwork, time management, creativity, interpersonal relations, as well as practical job-related skills such as curriculum vitae preparation and interview techniques.

Eligibility And Support Measures

The programmes are open to individuals aged 15 to 29 who are registered as NEETs and are currently listed as unemployed in the register maintained by the Public Employment Service (PES) of the Ministry of Labour and Social Insurance. Importantly, participants will not bear any costs for the training. In addition to receiving a training allowance, they will also be provided with supplemental financial support to cover travel and other related expenses.

Driving Economic and Social Transformation

This initiative is not only a significant move towards enhancing the employability of Cyprus’s youth but also reinforces the country’s commitment to fostering inclusive growth and social development. By equipping young people with essential skills and competencies, the programme positions them to navigate the evolving demands of the modern labour market.

Meta’s Muse Is Outpacing ChatGPT In Early Mobile Adoption, New Data Suggests

Meta’s new AI app, Muse, may be emerging as one of the company’s strongest consumer launches to date. Fresh estimates from market intelligence firm Apptopia suggest the app has outperformed ChatGPT in early mobile traction, at least in the U.S. and Canada.

According to Apptopia, Muse recorded more downloads in its first 12 days on the market than ChatGPT did during the comparable period after its mobile debut. The comparison, limited to the U.S. and Canada, puts Muse’s iOS downloads at 1.8 million versus 1.3 million for ChatGPT over the same initial window.

A Strong Early Start Across Platforms

In total, Muse has reached 2.8 million global installs in its first 12 days, according to the firm. The app’s momentum also appears to be holding. After debuting at No. 2 on the U.S. App Store, Muse has since climbed to No. 1, surpassing ChatGPT, according to reporting from Business Insider. Appfigures had previously estimated that Muse crossed 1 million downloads shortly after launch.

That early rise matters because app-store performance in the first days after launch often signals whether a product can sustain consumer attention beyond initial curiosity. In Meta’s case, the data suggests Muse is not simply benefiting from novelty; it is gaining ground quickly enough to challenge the category leader.

Daily Users Show Similar Momentum

Apptopia’s estimates point to another favorable comparison for Meta: daily usage. In the U.S. alone, Muse is said to have 642,000 daily active users, well above the 231,000 ChatGPT had at the same stage of its mobile rollout.

To make the comparison fairer, Apptopia also narrowed the analysis to iOS only, since ChatGPT launched on iPhone before expanding more broadly. Even under that tighter lens, Muse still comes out ahead, with 359,000 daily active users on iOS compared with ChatGPT’s earlier figure.

Why Meta Has An Advantage

Third-party estimates are not the same as internal company data, and Apptopia cannot see Meta’s proprietary numbers. Still, even directional data suggests Muse may be on track to become a meaningful consumer product for Meta.

That possibility is strengthened by Meta’s distribution advantage. The company has already demonstrated how powerful its ecosystem can be with Threads, which surpassed 500 million users after heavy promotion across Instagram and Facebook. Muse is likely to receive a similar boost, especially because it can connect across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.

Apptopia does not track Meta’s internal promotion strategy, but its data indicates that more than 95% of Muse users are also Facebook users, while 63% are Instagram users. That overlap underscores how effectively Meta can move users across its products when it chooses to prioritize a launch.

The Strategic Test For Meta

For Meta, the early signal from Muse is less about one app’s download count than about whether the company can turn its scale into durable AI adoption. The first test is attention. The harder one is retention.

If Muse can convert early downloads into habitual use, Meta may have found a new front door into its AI ambitions. If not, the app risks becoming another example of how easily mobile hype can spike before settling back down.

Meta, which was asked for comment, has not yet released public figures on Muse’s early adoption.

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