European Training Foundation strengthens regional innovation at Western Balkans Ministerial meeting
Skopje, 30 September 2024 - The European Training Foundation (ETF) will play an active role at the Western Balkans Ministerial meeting on Education and Training, Research and Innovation, and Culture, which started yesterday and will finish tomorrow (1 October 2024) in Skopje, North Macedonia. The ETF Director, Pilvi Torsti, is in discussions with Iliana Ivanova, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education, as along with ministers from the Western Balkans to strengthen ETF cooperation and to explore opportunities for enhancing education and training systems across the region. The Ministerial meeting is focused on promoting cooperation to drive innovation, skills development, and economic competitiveness across the Western Balkans in the context of the EU accession process.
The ETF's contribution and agenda
On Tuesday 1 October, Director Torsti will speak at a roundtable discussion entitled "Building a Unified Vision for Digital Education", alongside Antoaneta Angelova-Krasteva, Director for Innovation, Digital Education and International Cooperation at the European Commission. The discussion will focus on fostering a multi-stakeholder approach to digital education, aiming to create a unified strategy that aligns with EU and regional priorities.
Commenting on the ETF’s involvement in the meeting, Pilvi Torsti stated: "The ETF’s engagement in this ministerial meeting highlights the importance of the role of skills in supporting economic growth and innovation in the Western Balkans. Through regional cooperation and targeted support, we aim to ensure with continuity that education and training systems are equipped to address the challenges and opportunities of the digital and green transitions, contributing to sustainable development and inclusive growth."
For two days, the ETF is engaging in discussions on how skills development fuels innovation and growth in various economic sectors including agriculture, renewable energy, and sustainable tourism, priority areas for smart specialisation. The ETF will emphasise the huge potential for cross-border cooperation on skills development and will highlight the potential of EU funding opportunities, including through Erasmus+ and Horizon Europe, to support collaboration across companies, vocational education and training (VET) providers, universities, and civil society.
Supporting regional innovation and smart specialisation
A central ETF initiative is the Agri-Food Innovation Skilling Up the Western Balkans programme, which has engaged innovators, entrepreneurs, and policymakers across the region. A foresight report on this programme will be finalised in October 2024. In November, the ETF will host a Networking Meeting to further promote cross-border cooperation, with participants from both the Western Balkans and Eastern Partnership countries.
Promoting skills for growth and the Youth Guarantee
The ETF remains committed to advancing the implementation of the Youth Guarantee in the Western Balkans, advocating for the inclusion of education and training reforms in national schemes. Career guidance, apprenticeship schemes and work-based learning (WBL) are viewed as important pathways for young people transitioning to employment. The ETF is closely working with the authorities in the region and other international partners including the International Labour Organisation (ILO). In parallel, the ETF has carried out Skills and Jobs surveys in the region which look to the evolving skills demands and impact of digitalisation to help employers and policy makers plan ahead.
Moreover, the ETF is working with national Erasmus+ offices and education ministries to ensure that key lessons from the programme are integrated into national education and skills policies. A meeting on this topic is planned for early 2025, aiming to strengthen cooperation between stakeholders from formal and non-formal education sectors.
Qualifications reform and enhancing excellence
The ETF continues to advocate for reforming qualification systems in the Western Balkans to support the faster development of training programmes that address the demands of the digital and green transitions. Additionally, the ETF is promoting the validation of non-formal and informal learning to enhance upskilling opportunities and cultivate a culture of lifelong learning.
The ETF also supports regional initiatives focused on excellence in education and entrepreneurship, including some that focus on enhancing skills in digital education and entrepreneurship. These initiatives contribute to improving education quality across the region and add value to the work of the European Union.
Background
The European Training Foundation (ETF) is an EU agency dedicated to improving education, training, and employability in countries outside the EU. The ETF's mission is to support the development of human capital and skills to promote inclusive and sustainable growth.
Contacts
Daria Santucci, phone: +39 366 9639638, e-mail: mediarelations@etf.europa.eu