ETF - European Training Foundation

In an AI-made world, handmade is an act of resistance ✊

AI, robotics and 3D printing can replicate handcrafted pieces in record time. So what's left for the artisan? Crafts carry something a machine can't: narrative, meaning and authenticity.

Our report Crafting the Future: Five Squared [5²] gives you 25 recommendations for a crafts sector that stays human.

📖 Full report → https://www.etf.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/publications/crafting-future-five-squared-52

At the 7th ACQF Forum in Nairobi, Kenya, stakeholders from across Africa came together to advance a shared vision for qualifications recognition and skills development. 🔎 With more countries presenting their ACQF referencing reports, the Framework is becoming a practical continental language for qualifications.

Discussions on green skills, common occupational profiles and micro-credentials displayed how this shared foundation can support emerging skills and labour market priorities.

As the African Continental Qualifications Framework moves into the implementation phase, three 🔑 key priorities emerged as essential for building a more integrated and competitive continent.

🌍 𝗔 𝗺𝗶𝗹𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮.

This week, the 𝟳𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗙𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 (𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗙) 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝘂𝗺 brought together the African Union Commission, qualifications authorities, ministries, regional organisations and technical experts from across Africa in Nairobi, hosted by the Kenya National Qualifications Authority-KNQA.

The Forum marked a historic transition, with the resolutely moving from development to implementation. It is now operational.

𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗡𝗮𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗯𝗶:

✅ The first 𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗙 𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 were presented by Cabo Verde, Kenya and Seychelles, demonstrating how national qualifications frameworks relate to the ACQF. This marks the operationalisation of the Framework and creates the foundations for greater transparency, trust and mobility of learners and workers across Africa.

🤝 The 𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗙 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 demonstrated why it has become one of Africa's leading technical communities of practice. The depth of expertise, peer review and collaboration on display reflected years of capacity building and shared learning. As Africa advances new initiatives on qualifications, recognition and skills mobility, the ACQF Network is increasingly well positioned to serve as a trusted continental partner.

🌍 𝗟𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁, members agreed on the modalities for the formal registration of the ACQF Network in Kenya – an important step towards African ownership and long-term sustainability.

📚 The Forum also celebrated the public launch of the 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗿𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹𝘀 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺 (𝗤𝗖𝗣), a major new resource supporting transparency, comparability and recognition of qualifications across Africa.

We invite you to explore the Platform and discover how it is helping ensure African qualifications are more visible, more understandable and better trusted: https://tinyurl.com/ybthdxtf

The Forum benefitted from the active participation of the , which provided political leadership and strategic guidance for this flagship initiative.

Special recognition goes to the 𝗔𝗖𝗤𝗙 𝗡𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗶𝗸𝗮 𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 - Alice Kande (Kenya National Qualifications Authority-KNQA), Nadia Starr (SAQA) and Mercy Ngoma (Zambia Qualifications Authority) for their leadership in guiding the Network's growth and transition, and to KNQA for hosting an outstanding Forum.

As the technical partner supporting the African Union initiative, the ETF - European Training Foundation remains committed to accompanying this journey. Over the past years, the ETF has supported the development of the ACQF.

As the Network moves towards African-led sustainability, we will continue to support its implementation through technical cooperation and international partnerships.

As it pursues its path, is not just adopting new legislation, but delivering reforms that make a tangible difference for citizens. ⏩🤝🏼

Skills and employment reforms took centre stage at a recent ETF meeting entitled “European Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations: from Frameworks to Practice”, which gathered insights from ministry representatives, employment agency experts, and specialists in employment and social research. 💬

𝗔𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝘀, 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗽𝗮𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗲𝗱:

➡️ The modernisation of Montenegro's public employment service.

➡️ The need for reliable data, skilled counsellors and personalised supports.

➡️ The country’s preparations for implementing ESCO – the European classification of Skills, Competences, Qualifications and Occupations.

Read more in our latest web article (🔗 link in comments).

👩‍🔧👩‍🌾 Today, to mark World , we are reflecting on inspiring stories about developing skills for a shared future. We have seen, first hand, how young people, supported by strong educational policy and systems, can shape a more sustainable and inclusive tomorrow. 🧑‍⚕️👩‍🏭

📣 Tell us in the comments what youth skills story has had an impact on you?

This week, the European Training Foundation (ETF) hosted the 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺: 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, as part of the “Towards a Global TVET Agenda (TGTA)” initiative.

The event brought together VET providers, experts and policymakers from 24 countries to discuss the importance of (CoVEs) for skills development, mobility and recognition.

Among others, sessions focused on:

🧩 Exploring patterns, trends, enabling factors, and bottlenecks in CoVEs;

🌟Discussing opportunities, risks, and conditions for success;

🤝 Identifying themes for future collaborations through challenge-based partnerships.