Tracking the pathways of graduates after completing education and training has become a cornerstone of evidence-based skills governance. Graduate tracking provides valuable insights into how effectively education and training systems prepare learners for employment, further study, and active participation in society. By systematically collecting and analysing information on graduates’ transitions, employment outcomes, and satisfaction, countries can better identify where policies succeed, where skills mismatches persist, and how institutions can adapt to changing labour market realities.
Within the European Union, the importance of graduate tracking has been underscored by the Council Recommendation on Graduate Tracking (2017), which calls for comprehensive and comparable systems across Member States and neighbouring economies. For ETF partner countries, graduate tracking has likewise become a strategic priority. Many have launched national initiatives to strengthen tracer survey mechanisms and develop institutional capacities, often with ETF support. The European Training Foundation has been assisting partner countries in designing survey tools, building data systems, and promoting the use of graduate evidence for improving the relevance and quality of education and training.
Recent ETF work in countries such as Morocco and Serbia highlights how graduate tracking can inform curriculum design, enhance career guidance, and foster closer collaboration between training providers and employers. Beyond identifying graduate outcomes, these initiatives explore how tracking data can be translated into actionable intelligence—supporting graduates in their transitions, refining training provision, and guiding public investment in skills.
Despite significant progress, challenges persist. Data fragmentation, limited coordination between institutions, and the underuse of available findings often weaken the policy impact of tracking exercises. Integrating multiple data sources—linking administrative databases, tracer surveys, and employer feedback—remains a key frontier. Meanwhile, digital technologies and artificial intelligence offer new opportunities for real-time analysis and feedback loops, while also raising questions around privacy, interoperability, and data governance.
This webinar explored how countries are addressing these challenges and turning graduate tracking into a practical tool for system improvement. Drawing on examples from ETF partner countries and EU Member States, speakers shared experiences ranging from large-scale tracer surveys to innovative uses of tracking results for policy, institutional reform, and career support. The discussion highlighted how graduate tracking can become an integral part of broader skills intelligence ecosystems, ensuring that education and training systems remain responsive, evidence-based, and learner-centred in a rapidly changing world.
You can find the agenda and presentations as attachments to this page.
The short summary and the webinar recording will be available soon.
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