European Training Foundation (ETF)

By sharing expertise in vocational education and training across regions and cultures, the European Training Foundation (ETF) helps people to develop their skills, thereby promoting better living conditions and active citizenship in democratic societies that respect human rights and cultural diversity. As a centre of expertise, the ETF contributes to sustainable socioeconomic development by enabling 30 EU neighbouring countries to reform their vocational education and training systems mainly through European Community programmes Phare, CARDS, Tacis and MEDA. The European Training Foundation also assists the European Commission in the implementation of the Tempus programme.

The European Training Foundation worked with 30 partner countries across three continents, including the candidate countries, south-eastern Europe, eastern Europe and central Asia, and the Mediterranean region and carries out the following activities:

• assesses progress and future priorities for reform in partner countries in vocational education and training and its links to socioeconomic development;
• designs, develops, monitors and assesses projects at the request of the European Commission;
• builds capacity so policy-makers and practitioners in partner countries take full part in modernising their vocational education and training systems;
• facilitates dialogue amongst stakeholders by developing international, national and local networks

The European Training Foundation also promotes access to European expertise and practices in human resources development in general, and the European employment strategy in particular. It cooperates closely with Cedefop.

As an international centre of expertise, the European Training Foundation collaborates with other European and international institutions and organisations such as the World Bank, OECD, the ILO, the European Investment Bank and UNESCO.