Torino Process and Osnabrück - tools for transforming vocational education and training

The European Training Foundation’s (ETF) Torino Process is a tool to monitor and improve how countries utilise vocational education and training (VET) to address economic and social challenges. The Osnabrück Declaration (see below) sets out strategic actions for VET to drive recovery and support the transition to green and digital economies (2021–2025). It supports the Council Recommendation on VET as a tool for sustainable growth, social fairness, and resilience.

Together, these frameworks provide a powerful basis for evidence-based reforms, helping countries strengthen their VET systems and make them more responsive to future skills needs.

The Torino Process and its support of vocational education

The Torino Process is a biennial review of VET policies and practices in EU neighbouring countries. Launched in 2010, it supports human capital development by helping countries assess and improve their VET systems. Each round explores key trends and challenges and examines how VET can respond to socio-economic and demographic developments.

The sixth round of the Torino process (2022–24) focuses on strengthening VET systems to support skills development and lifelong learning, with two main objectives:

Level 1 objective (TRP1): Monitoring how VET systems ensure equitable access to lifelong learning.  This involves using both indicators and qualitative questions to track VET system performance.

📝 Deliverable: National monitoring reports on policy and VET system performance.
🌏 Coverage: All participating countries over a one-year cycle

Level 2 objective (TRP2): Analysing how policies shape and influence VET system performance, with the goal of identifying improvements. Participatory reviews explore how reforms in policy and practices can strengthen lifelong learning systems.

📝 Deliverable: Policy review reports offering evidence-based recommendations to improve access to and inclusion in vocational education

🌏 Coverage: On-demand reviews for selected countries, based on capacity and interest.

Torino Process results, data and country monitoring reports

Review the latest findings and evidence-based recommendations from the Torino Process:

• Country monitoring 2023: Albania, Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Egypt, Georgia, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Moldova, Montenegro, Morocco, North Macedonia, Palestine, Serbia, Tunisia, Türkiye, Ukraine
• Updated 2024 Country monitoring reports: Algeria, Egypt, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Morocco, Palestine, Tunisia, Ukraine
• Cross-country monitoring: Education, skills and employment: Trends and developments 2024, Education, skills and employment: Trends and developments 2023

Key Torino Process documents and technical guidelines

• Torino Process 2022–24: Towards lifelong learning – EN FR AR RU – a leaflet explaining the sixth round of the Torino Process
• Torino Process 2022–24: Towards lifelong learning – Guidelines to a new framework for reviewing policies and monitoring system performance – EN – an overview of the new framework for monitoring and policy reviews, and of the process of implementation (TRP1 and TRP2 levels of participation)
• TRP1. Torino Process framework for monitoring policy and system performance – describes the new framework’s design, focus, and implementation modality, as well as the deliverables
• TRP1. Torino Process technical report – provides technical details about the proxy indicators included in the framework, the process of compiling the quantitative and qualitative evidence, and the methodology for calculating the composite performance indices included in the national monitoring reports
• TRP2. Torino Process reviews of policies for lifelong learning: Scope and key thematic areas – EN FR RU – introduces the rationale for the reviews and describes the various thematic areas and guiding questions that a policy review can cover, in addition to areas that may be requested by a partner country
• TRP2. Torino Process reviews of policies for lifelong learning: Methodology of implementation – EN FR RU – describes the steps of the review process, the conditions and modalities for participation and implementation, the responsibilities of those involved, as well as the tentative timing of the review process

What is the Osnabrück Declaration 2020? Strategic goals for VET reform

The Osnabrück Declaration is a strategic framework that supports the development of green and digital skills through reforms and innovation in VET systems. It supports employability, strengthens competitiveness, and promotes sustainable economic growth by aligning skills development with future labour market needs. Specifically, it focuses on:

1. Promoting resilience and excellence through high-quality, inclusive and flexible VET;
2. Fostering a culture of lifelong learning, with an emphasis on continuing VET and digitalisation;
3. Advancing sustainability, by embedding green skills and practices in VET;
4. Strengthening international cooperation through the European Education and Training Area and global VET partnerships.

The ETF is actively supporting the implementation of actions outlined in the Osnabrück Declaration in South Eastern Europe and Türkiye, in close cooperation with its sister EU agency Cedefop. For information about policy developments in 2021-2022, see Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye country briefs.
The latest country briefs, focusing on policy developments in 2024, are available for Albania, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Türkiye.

ETF’s Torino Process: Driving the transformation of VET today and into the future

Since its launch in 2010, the Torino Process has become a unique and trusted mechanism for countries to systematically assess and improve their VET systems. Its structured, participatory approach—grounded in both data and dialogue—has helped shape national reforms, strengthen policy coherence, and promote inclusion and lifelong learning across ETF partner countries. When combined with the strategic direction outlined in the Osnabrück Declaration, the Torino Process offers a powerful foundation for evidence-based transformation, ensuring VET systems are fit for the future. 

Is your country ready to help shape the future of vocational education and training? Join the next round of the Torino Process and be part of the transformation.