Unlocking Skills for Everyone, Everywhere

The European Training Foundation (ETF) launches the Skills4All, a two-month initiative to promote the importance of skills development and lifelong learning for everyone, regardless of age, background, or location. 

As the world transforms around us, developing the right skills has never been more vital — not only to stay competitive in the job market but also to adapt to new challenges in our personal and professional lives. With our focus on Skills4All, the ETF aims to raise awareness and encourage people everywhere to invest in their skills, promoting a culture of continuing learning across Europe and beyond.

Why Skills4All matters

Developing new skills or improving existing ones isn’t just about getting a job—it’s about being prepared for the future. As the world shifts towards digital and green economies, the demand for specialised knowledge and skills in these areas continues to grow. Lifelong learning allows individuals to stay relevant, expand their horizons, and contribute to a sustainable and resilient society.

How we work towards inclusive skills development

As the European Union’s specialised agency for skills development in EU neighbouring countries, the ETF works to improve access to opportunities for everyone. Our work focuses on several key areas:

Education has no gender—but is that true today? 

Achieving gender equality is a priority both within and beyond the EU. Many women face barriers, especially in fields like science and technology, where men still tend to dominate. Women's skills often go underused, with fewer opportunities for advancement, training, or fair pay. Unlocking their full potential benefits everyone. It’s time to break gender stereotypes and let our societies move forward on the path to prosperity.

    Publications

• Gender dimension of the labour market transitions

      Lives 

• Social dialogue for inclusion in education and skills development

  
  Podcast 

• Reducing the gender gap: how far did we get?

Digital skills: easier than ever to get started?
The ETF supports countries in transforming their education systems to prepare citizens for the digital era. Through initiatives like SELFIE and SELFIE for Teachers, we help schools and teachers evaluate and enhance their digital skills. Our Digital Competence Framework guides individuals and institutions in mastering essential digital skills, while grassroots projects like DIGI-ENE foster digital education practices crucial for Industry 4.0.

    Publications

• Embracing the digital age. The future of work in Western Balkans: new forms of employment and platform work.

      Lives 

• Digital inclusion: sharing priorities, making it real
• Digital skills and readiness: the real story

• Teachers VS AI: Public Debate

  
  Podcast 

• Humans VS Machines: the future of jobs

If the future is green, what about skills? 
The transition to a greener and cleaner world is an enormous challenge and a pressing priority – for all. To get there, green skills are required – the skills people need to work in occupations that are sustainable. The development of new skills, as well as the updating of existing ones to support the green transition is a transversal issue within all of the ETF’s activities. 

    Publications

• Green Skills, Red Alert! Learning to power the green transition

      Lives

• Watch here our conversation about most common myths about green skills.  
• Do you need an inspiration? - watch here the stories of 10 finalists of Green Skills Awards.  

      Podcast 

• "War is a catastrophe, so is climate change" - listen to the inspiring story of an educator from Kurdistan, Iraq
• What are our most common misconceptions about green skills? Are they relevant for rich countries only? Are they closely associated with male-dominated jobs?

Valuing talent: recognising skills beyond borders
Recognising the unique challenges faced by migrants, ETF supports initiatives that improve their employability and integration into the workforce. We collaborate on Talent Partnerships and assist with the recognition of qualifications for third-country nationals, helping to create opportunities for migrants that benefit both their home and host countries.

  Publications

• Migrant women as learners: individual pathways and prospects

      Lives 

• Skills dimensions of migration: Setting up the context
• Fair recognition of migrants’ qualifications
• Skills dimensions of migration: Actions from EU neighbourhood
  
  Podcast 
   
• Migration 2.0: Why migrants’ skills are important?

How you can participate

Through Skills4All, we invite everyone—individuals, educators, policymakers, and organisations—to join us in promoting learning and skills development for all types of people. Follow our updates, learn about our initiatives, and explore the tools and resources available to support skills development in your community.