Torino is set to become the epicenter of an international debate on human capital this autumn as policymakers, industry leaders, and educators converge for a major global summit. The Torino Global Skills Summit 2026 will run from November 23 to 25 at the OGR (Officine Grandi Riparazioni) in the Piedmont capital.
Promoted by the European Training Foundation (ETF)—an EU agency headquartered in Turin since 1994—the three-day international gathering tackles a stark contradiction facing advanced economies today. While segments of the population struggle to secure stable employment, countless enterprises report severe shortages of the specialized talent required to stay competitive.
Rapid technological innovation, demographic aging, and the green transition are fundamentally altering labor demand faster than traditional educational systems can adapt. To address these systemic shifts, the summit operates within the framework of the European Commission’s “Union of Skills” strategy, launched in March 2025 to elevate vocational training, boost lifelong learning, and streamline the cross-border recognition of professional qualifications.
Shaping the Future of Human Capital Through Three Core Pillars
The structured agenda divides the discussions into three interconnected tracks: Skills for People, Skills for Business, and Skills for Society.
A dedicated focus will also target international labor mobility and the “portability” of skills, particularly across the Mediterranean region, making foreign professional qualifications transparent and easily recognized.
Shifting toward enterprise and competitiveness, the “Skills for Business” track examines the immediate demands of small and medium-sized enterprises and the emergence of supportive entrepreneurial ecosystems.
Sessions will explore the role of education in democratic participation and crisis recovery, featuring discussions on “skills for peace” and the reconstruction of human capital in conflict-scarred societies, drawing directly on experiences from Ukraine, the Western Balkans, and the Mediterranean.
Inside the Leadership and Living Lab Vision of the ETF
Guiding the agency behind the summit is Pilvi Torsti, a Finnish educational policy expert who has directed the ETF since 2023. Torsti brings a strong academic and governmental background to Turin, having previously served as a state secretary in Finland across ministries of education, labor, and economic affairs, alongside founding initiatives like HEI Schools and contributing to the United World College in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Under her direction, the ETF continues its three-decade mission of supporting modernization across more than forty partner countries at Europe’s borders and neighborhood regions. Rather than viewing skills merely as a tool for individual employment, the agency treats professional training as a pillar of regional stability and international cooperation.
Turin itself assumes an active role beyond merely hosting the event. Organizers have designed the city as a “Living Lab,” showcasing how close collaboration among local administrations, universities, businesses, and community organizations fosters local innovation and social inclusion.
Alongside formal plenary sessions, the venue hosts the #MadeWithSkills Exchange, an interactive space where practitioners teach concrete competencies through brief training modules. The event also features the presentation of the ETF Green Skills Awards, celebrating exceptional contributions to the green transition. While the primary three-day sessions are largely invitation-only, ancillary events remain open to the public, setting the stage for long-term international partnerships well beyond the final gavel on November 25.
