Measures for quality assurance in VET

In 2019, in line with the country's priority to implement the National plan for quality of education and training, the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) launched the national initiative Services for monitoring the National plan for quality of education and training and for the operational management of the National peer review network of schools and vocational training centres in Italy. The objectives and goals were the following:

1. to monitor and examine the stage of implementation of the National plan for quality of education and training at national, regional, and local level;
2. to promote and experiment the European peer review methodology as a joint-evaluation tool amongst schools and vocational training centres;
3. to raise awareness and further disseminate the National plan for quality of education and training in relation to the EQAVET indicators and self-assessment methodologies (like the European peer review).

In 2020, after the pandemic outbreak, the development of the national initiative Services for monitoring the National plan for quality of education and training and for the Operational management of the National peer review network of schools and vocational education and training (VET) centres in Italy slowed during the lockdown, when all schools and VET centres were closed. Nevertheless, its implementation continued and, despite the difficulties due to the pandemic, the first results and outcomes of the initiative were monitored and reported.

In 2021, despite the difficulties due to the restrictions linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the implementation of the national initiative Services for monitoring the National plan for quality of education and training and for the Operational management of the National peer review network of schools and VET centres in Italy continued. Its different activities were monitored and regularly reported.

In 2022, the national initiative Services for monitoring the National plan for quality of education and training and the Operational management of the National peer review network of schools and VET centres in Italy ended and its follow-up started. Moreover, the EQAVET National Reference Point continued its activities of promotion and support to the policies for quality in VET at national, regional and local level, through the active involvement of the stakeholders which are members of the National Board.

Also, on 26 and 27 October 2022, the fifth EQAVET Peer Review Quality Assurance in the dual system in IVET took place in Italy, hosted by the Italian NRP, INAPP. EQAVET Network members from Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary and Spain joined the meeting to acted as peer reviewers. The Peer Review focused on the quality assurance of the initial VET pathway, the IeFP (Istruzione e Formazione Professionale), the first national VET pathway for young learners - who are usually 14 years old when they enrol into IeFP. The IeFP balances regional autonomy with the creation of a nationally recognised, initial VET qualification. Discussions between the hosts, peers and other stakeholders explored two main areas of quality assurance. Firstly, the Peer Review focused on the governance of the IeFP, particularly in relation to balancing the needs and responsibilities of the regions with the national requirements. Secondly, the event also looked at the inclusion of the IeFP qualifications in the national repertory. Participants also had the opportunity to exchange on the balance between regional and national regulations, how EQAVET indicators can be applied in VET at regional level as well as the use of indicators to monitor and review the process. From the Italian side participants included the ministries of labour and education, the regions, social partners and some VET providers.

Following the EQAVET Peer Review Quality Assurance in the dual system in IVET, several key follow-up objectives were identified, mainly focused on the dissemination of the peer review findings, raising awareness about its added value.

In March 2023, the NRP presented the results and feedback to the Italian EQAVET Board, which brings together the most relevant stakeholders of the VET sector, calling for further dissemination actions. The two main measures examined by peers, governance of the IeFP and the National Repertory of Qualifications, were identified as key elements to the work on a higher quality of the training offer and for the work success of young people in Italy (i.e. increased employability options and mobility opportunities provided by the IeFP).

Dissemination and awareness-raising initiatives were activated targeting a wider audience, and especially stakeholders and actors of the VET sector at different levels. These stakeholders include representatives of institutions acting in the VET sector and not involved in the EQAVET Board, local authorities, learning providers, organisations of the labour market, experts.

Regarding the more general outcomes from the peer review, a political debate on the proposal to establish a technical vocational training pathway (filiera formativa tecnologico-professionale) started. This pathway aims to connect all existing paths of the VET sector from the national and regional education paths, both at upper secondary and tertiary levels. This initiative is expected to cover the regional IeFP courses and will strengthen the VET offer by setting up a closer link between secondary schools/high schools (second cycle) and tertiary education paths based on a model of 4+2 years. This anticipates to reducing the rate of school dropout and improve consistency between VET and company needs / requirements.

IIn May 2024, the NRP's Board, started a reflection on the most important issues on which to concentrate the effort for the next few years for an update of the National Quality Plan linked to the reforms already in place.

The VET Recommendation 2020 placed the issue of quality in a broader strategic context, paving the way for improvements in the advancements of the 2023 EQF referencing report, in the dual VET system, and the reform of ITS academies. Also, the issue of quality was raised during the ongoing negotiations on the package for the quality of traineeships.

The EQAVET framework provided tools for evaluation and highlighted the role of peers both in the exchange of good practices and in the assessment phases. This allowed the regions, especially in the south, to report satisfactory data in the first year of implementation of the national recovery and resilience plan (NRRP) measure concerning the dual system