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Turin: Europe’s capital of skills

PRESS RELEASE - Turin: Europe’s capital of skills

Three international events by the European Training Foundation (ETF) under the patronage of the City of Turin

Tá an leathanach seo ar fáil sna teangacha seo a leanas freisin

 

Turin, 21 October 2025 – Turin reaffirms its position as Europe’s capital of skills. Over the coming weeks, the city will host three high-level international events organised by the European Training Foundation (ETF) – the European Union agency based in Villa Gualino, Turin – all under the patronage of the City of Turin. 

The events will bring together ministers, European Commission representatives, experts, international partners, and financial institutions to discuss cooperation, lifelong learning, and sustainable competitiveness. This programme consolidates Turin’s role as a European hub for innovation in education and skills diplomacy. 

 

“Every investment in education is an investment in the future. Turin, home to the ETF for more than thirty years, is where this conviction takes shape every day. Here, we build skills for peace, social cohesion, and prosperity – within and beyond Europe,” said Pilvi Torsti, ETF Director. 

“Turin is proud to be the home of the ETF and a European point of reference for training and international cooperation. These events demonstrate how our city can play a leading role in building relationships and opportunities through skills,” said Michela Favaro, Deputy Mayor of Turin. 

 

Three events shaping the future of skills 

30–31 October 2025 – Europe and Central Asia together for the future of youth 

  • Roundtable of the EU-funded DARYA (Dialogue and Action for Resourceful Youth in Central Asia) project, bringing together the Deputy Ministers of Education and Labour from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, alongside Eduards Stiprais, EU Special Representative for Central Asia. 
  • The meeting aims to strengthen cooperation between Europe and Central Asia in skills development and youth employment. 

  • The programme includes study visits to centres of excellence in the Piedmont region, such as APRO Formazione and the Ferrero plant in Alba – showcasing the connection between skills, enterprise, and local development. 

     

18–19 November 2025 – Lifelong learning and European cooperation 

  • High-level roundtable on lifelong learning, organised by the ETF in cooperation with DVV International (the German agency for adult education), with the participation of Secretaries of State and Ministers from European and non-European countries. 
  • The initiative is part of the European Commission’s new Union of Skills strategy, which aims to make skills accessible to citizens of all ages and backgrounds. 

  • Visits will be organised to Turin-based organisations active in lifelong learning and inclusion, in cooperation with the Turin Industrial Union, Adult Education Centres (CPIA), and the Fondazione per la Scuola of Compagnia di San Paolo, highlighting innovative practices developed in the city. 

     

26 November 2025 – Empowering competitiveness: Investing in skills ecosystems and strategic partnerships for prosperity 

  • Event co-organised with the European Commission, the European Investment Bank (EIB), and other international financial institutions to explore how to invest in skills ecosystems and promote sustainable growth. 
  • On this occasion, the new joint initiative Gender and Social Inclusion Facility, developed by the ETF and the EIB, will be launched. 
  • All events are by invitation only, but open to the media. 
 
The European Training Foundation 

The European Training Foundation (ETF) is the European Union agency supporting neighbouring and EU candidate countries in reforming education, training, and labour market systems. Over the past thirty years, the ETF has helped transform Turin into a meeting point between Europe and the world, contributing to global strategies for skills development and international cooperation. 

The ETF works with nearly 30 partner countries – from Ukraine to the Western Balkans, from the Southern Mediterranean to Central Asia and the African Union – to strengthen Europe’s security and prosperity and that of its neighbours. 

The ETF’s Governing Board, chaired by the European Commission, brings together representatives from all 27 EU Member States, with the Mayor of Turin participating as an observer. The Foundation is based in Villa Gualino, Turin. 

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