training

ETF upskilling EU Delegations worldwide

The ETF trains the staff of 23 EU delegations on vocational education and training programmes

A key part of the mission of the European Training Foundation is to support the EU external services in designing and implementing effective assistance programmes aimed at making education and training a driver of growth, jobs and inclusion in partner countries.

At the request of the Commission’s Directorate General for International Partnerships, the ETF was asked to deliver a training course on vocational education and training for external assistance personnel worldwide.

“Providing people with job relevant skills boosts their employability and – alongside other interventions – can promote growth, employment and social integration” said ETF Director Cesare Onestini. “Vocational education and training is therefore an important instrument in the development toolbox.”

Sharing ETF knowledge

“We welcome this opportunity to share the knowledge and expertise we have built up over more than 25 years working in more than 40 countries” he said. “We’ve learnt a lot about what works – and what doesn’t work - in different contexts, and we are delighted to be able to pass this experience on to our colleagues in the EU delegations and headquarters services.”

The course is designed for programme managers and policy officers in the EU external services. The first module, which focused on understanding skills needs and analysing VET systems and policies, took place online over 5 days in May-June 2021. Staff from 23 EU Delegations around the world took part. The second module, which concentrates on designing and monitoring VET support programmes, will be delivered on 11-12, 18-19 and 23 November 2021.

Joining the dots

“Skills development is an increasingly important aspect of the EU’s external assistance” said ETF Senior Expert Marie Dorleans, who leads the course. “It’s about joining the dots between economic development, the labour market and the implications for education and training systems to boost people’s employability.”

The course brings perspectives from a range of ETF experts, as well as speakers from international organisations and the private sector. It is an engaging experience, with hands on working groups, real-life case studies and interactive tools. Time is set aside for participants to share their experience, discuss the issues they face and network with colleagues who share the same challenges.

“It’s an opportunity to develop a real understanding of how vocational education and training systems work, and how to support countries effectively in making them real drivers of development” said Marie Dorleans “and why not, have fun too!”

ETF intellectual capital

“It’s an excellent training” said Antonis Tsamoulis, Programme Officer at the EU Delegation to Libya, who participated in the course. “It’s been quite some time since I had such a nice training experience. You guys at the ETF have amazing intellectual capital. We should be using more your capacities.”

“We hope to be able to repeat the course again in future” said Cesare Onestini “and we are ready to develop targeted training on request according to specific needs.”

EU staff interested in following the course should sign up through the EULearn portal.  

 

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