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While smart specialisation is primarily about the economics of specialisation, vocational education and training (VET) and skills are the engine that drive smart specialisation. The [European Training Foundation] ETF's methodological approach on skills for smart specialisation anchors the implementation of smart specialisation strategies in a realistic supply of relevant skills - in particular at medium and high levels. It opens up discussions about skilling, upskilling, reskilling and career development support in the context of the twin digital and green transitions. It offers a concrete tool to connect vocational education and training through productivity-enhancing skills to the drive for innovation, growth and competitiveness. The ETF's skills for smart specialisation approach builds pathways for focused VET excellence to flexibly supply relevant human capital and workforce retraining for the private sector for higher productivity and quality jobs.

To develop a valid and usable toolkit, the methodology, tools and approaches have been tested to ensure their appropriateness to the requirements of implementing smart specialisation strategies. The testing was first implemented in 2019 in Montenegro in the tourism and energy sectors, which were identified as priorities in the national smart specialisation strategy. In 2020, the testing was expanded to the Republic of Moldova, where the preliminary mapping had identified energy (focus on renewable energy) and food processing as potential priorities for smart specialisation. Finally, in 2021–2022, the methodology was enriched and applied at regional level in Ukraine, in two pilot regions: Rivne and Kharkiv. The lessons learnt are summarised in this toolkit, which contains more than a set of research methods - it also embraces the theoretical and contextual perspectives underlying the analysis, along with a justification for using the chosen approach and tools, and comments from partners.

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This report is one in a series that were prepared as part of an international research project on 'The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition' in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report presents the results of the cross-country analysis based on the five country reports from the first phase of the research. These country reports covered selected enterprises in Bulgaria, Romania, Poland, Slovenia, and Moscow and the Ural Region, and concentrated on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The research was based on questionnaires which were sent out to general, human resources and individual managers. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training had been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it could be further developed in the future. This comparative report aims to review the main issues related to management training needs in this region and to identify some general issues and recommendations.

The five country reports are indexed from TD/TNC 64.52 to TD/TNC 64.56. Show less

The Torino Process (TRP) is a participatory process leading to an evidence-based analysis of the vocational education and training (VET) policies in a country. Introduced in 2010 and carried out every two years, the Torino Process provides a snapshot of the state of development of VET systems in the ETF's partner countries, an overview of progress made and priorities for the future. These key findings present the general trends in the development of vocational education and training systems in the ETF partner countries. They are based on intelligence included in the national reports of the 2016 edition of the Torino Process and draw on the subsequent regional and thematic analyses undertaken by the ETF.

The most frequent priorities that countries report in the Torino Process are: Qualifications and qualifications systems continue to be recognised as a tool for quality assurance and relevance of the system and countries will keep on working on that in future; Upgrading the skills of teachers and trainers in VET is a priority mentioned by all partner countries; Stronger involvement of social partners in the VET policy cycle, with a focus on moving from involvement in dialogue to partnerships for delivery; and Strengthening the implementation capacity for system change and impact.

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This European Training Foundation (ETF) study of the Moldovan vocational education and training (VET) system outlines the political and economic situation in the country and describes various aspects of the VET system such as the legal framework, demographic changes and their implications for the sector, enrolments, types of vocational schools, human resources and teacher training, financing, curriculum, standards, certification and assessment, and research. The study then examines labour market issues and their implications for VET. These include labour force characteristics, employment and unemployment, the work of employment services, and social dialogue mechanisms and the role of social partners. The study reveals that the Moldovan VET system is undergoing radical change and that there is still no firm basis for a system that meets the needs of the current economic and social situation in the country. Three issues are considered vital to the restructuring of the VET system: policy development; a mechanism to involve social partners; and raising the status and visibility of VET schools and the occupations for which they prepare their students. Based on the findings, the study recommends: the need for analysis to underpin policy; involvement of social partners at all levels, particularly in labour market analysis and standards development; reform of the financial system; separation of VET and secondary education; and priority for rural schools. Show less

This report is one in a series prepared as part of an international research project on ‘The assessment of management training needs at the achieved level of transition’ in various Central and Eastern European countries. The project was implemented by the Central and East European Management Development Association (CEEMAN) and was sponsored by the European Training Foundation (ETF). This report covers selected enterprises in the Russian Federation and concentrates on the issue of management training needs in manufacturing and service sector industries. The study was carried out during 1998. The research was based on questionnaires, which were sent out to general, human resources and individual managers. The aim was to understand training processes, approaches and practice in order to evaluate how training has been used as a response to evolving business needs and how it can be further developed in the future. Show less

The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

This report focuses on VET in the Kingdom of Jordan. Jordan has a young and rapidly growing population, but few natural resources. Jordan considers the education of its people a priority. One of the goals set for the technical and vocational education and training (TVET) sector is to increase the employment of Jordanians and decrease the reliance on expatriate labour. Reform of the TVET system in Jordan is focusing on the rationalising of the system and its programmes, private sector involvement and improving the perception of TVET and careers. Problems faced by Jordan include fragmentation of the labour market and a lack of demand-driven education and training. A system of continuing education based around lifelong learning is also required. Show less

This document reports on a conference held to provide an opportunity for the exchange of innovation and good practices in vocational training between the European Union (EU) and south- and east-Mediterranean (MED) countries, in particular using results from the Leonardo da Vinci program (an EU initiative to promote projects designed to improve quality and innovation in vocational training in Europe) and other regional initiatives. The conference comprised four main sessions, each of them beginning with a presentation of the state of the art and latest developments within a particular area. The sessions focused on priority themes for both the EU and the MED countries’ training systems. These themes were as follows: (1) training and enterprises: how to ensure that training provided is attuned to the needs of enterprises, in particular of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); (2) quality in vocational education and training, quality management and quality control systems; (3) eLearning : virtual learning methods; and (4) training teachers and trainers. The report begins with a summary and context of the support provided by the EU’s MEDA program (technical and financial support measures to accompany the reform of economic and social structures in the Mediterranean partner countries) in relation to vocational training and employment. This comprises an overview of: the challenges of Euro-Mediterranean integration for the MED countries in terms of unemployment, jobs and social inclusion; the strengths and weaknesses of the reforms in progress to address those issues; and the European support provided in the context of the MEDA program in relation to vocational training and employment. Show less

Updating knowledge and professional skills regularly is needed to adapt to the requirements of the economy and the labour market. Lifelong learning has therefore become essential and is a priority in Europe and the neighbouring countries of the enlarged Europe. This conference, organised by the European Training Foundation in Turin on November 4th, 2003, provided for the exchange of experiences and good practices in the field of innovation in training systems. Its purpose was to illuminate current developments in vocational training in the countries on Europe’s southern and eastern Mediterranean borders (Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Palestine and Turkey) and to promote cooperation in this field. Positive results from projects supported by the Leonardo da Vinci program, and other national initiatives in this field, provided the basis for the conference. Discussions were conducted around four themes: (1) training and enterprises: how to ensure that training provided is attuned to the needs of enterprises, in particular of small and medium enterprises (SMEs); (2) quality in vocational education and training, quality management and quality control systems; (3) eLearning: virtual learning methods; and (4) training teachers and trainers. This conference report provides a synthesis of debates around these themes, the keynote speeches and the presentations from each theme. A list of participants is included.

A less detailed overview of this conference is indexed at TD/TNC 76.550. Show less

In June 2000, the Human Resources Development Working Group of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe identified employment and skills as a priority area for development in the international community’s support for the reconstruction of the Balkans region. The Group commissioned the European Training Foundation (ETF) to develop proposals for strategically addressing employment and manpower issues in the region. As a consequence, a meeting of experts was held in Tirana in November 2000 to discuss training issues for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the region. This report addresses the issues raised by one workshop from the meeting on employment and skills for SMEs in the construction sector. The working group concluded that the region’s construction industries require trade and management skills to meet the demands of the infrastructure improvements to be supported by the international community. The working group proposed three specific measures: (1) regional and national training centres for construction trade skills; (2) regional and national training centres for management disciplines; and (3) on-the-job training in trade and management skills for SMEs providing services on large infrastructure projects. The report contains the following chapters: Background; Manpower, small and medium-sized enterprises and the construction sector; The construction skills’ workshop; Results of workshop: practical training projects; Issues for construction skills development in South Eastern Europe; Conclusions and recommendations. Show less

The Torino Process was launched by the European Training Foundation (ETF) in 2010 and is a biannual participatory analytical review of the status and progress of vocational education and training (VET) in the ETF partner countries. The aims are to acquire current knowledge about policies and their outcomes in a country, and to strengthen ownership, participation and the evidence base of policy formation.

This paper examines the current situation of VET in Georgia. Following reform of the system in 2005, a number of problems still exist, including variations in the quality of VET and lack of pathways. In the immediate post-Soviet era, inefficient and unsuitable VET centres were closed or improved. However, Georgia has not yet set up a system to manage the reforms and to solve the problems of the current VET system. VET in Georgia is not an attractive option despite a need for the skills that VET provides. The system has not been updated to reflect the skills needed and the human resource development (HRD) of the entire sector needs work. The higher education system has problems of its own with the skills of graduates not matching the needs of the labour market. Unemployment is high among graduates and youth compared to older workers indicating that inappropriate educational streaming may have taken place. Funding for VET in Georgia has fallen since 2005. Various reforms are needed including the further improvement of VET centres, reform of teacher training, increased guidance and improved transitions to the labour market. More work is required to raise the perception of VET and to offer high-quality programmes that are relevant to the labour market. Show less