Vocational education and training in Europe | Italy

General themes

Summary of main elements ( 1 )

Vocational education and training (VET) is characterised by multilevel governance with broad involvement of national, regional and local stakeholders. Ministries of education and labour lay down general rules and common principles for the system. VET schools are in charge of upper secondary VET school pathways (EQF 4-ISCED 354). Regions and autonomous provinces are in charge of VET programmes and most apprenticeship-type schemes. Social partners contribute in defining and creating active employment policies relevant to VET and lifelong learning.

Compulsory education lasts 10 years, up to age 16. At age 14 learners make a choice between general education, secondary VET school pathways and regional VET pathways (EQF 3 or 4-ISCED 353). They have the 'right/duty' (diritto/dovere) to stay in education until age 18 to accomplish 12 years of education and/or vocational qualification.

At upper secondary level, the following VET programmes are offered:

5-year programmes (EQF level 4) at technical schools (istituti tecnici) leading to technical education diplomas; at vocational schools (istituti professionali) they lead to professional education diplomas. Programmes combine general education and VET and can also be delivered in the form of alternance training. Graduates have access to higher education;
3-year programmes (istruzione e formazione professionale, IeFP) leading to a vocational qualification (attestato di qualifica di operatore professionale, EQF level 3);
4-year programmes leading to a technician professional diploma (diploma professionale di tecnico, EQF level 4).

All upper secondary education programmes are school-based but could be also delivered as apprenticeships (Type 1).

There is permeability across VET programmes and also within the general education system.

On completion of a 3-year vocational qualification, it is possible to attend 1 additional year leading to a 4-year vocational diploma; this allows enrolling in the fifth year of the State education system and sitting the State exam for a general, technical or professional education diploma.

At post-secondary level, VET is offered as higher technical education for graduates of 5-year upper secondary programmes or 4-year IeFP programmes who passed entrance exams:

higher technical education and training courses (istruzione e formazione tecnica superiore, IFTS): 1-year post-secondary non-academic programmes leading to a high technical specialisation certificate (certificato di specializzazione tecnica superiore, EQF level 4);
higher technical institute programmes (istituti tecnici superiori; ITS): 2- to 3-year post-secondary non-academic programmes which lead to a high-level technical diploma (diploma di tecnico superiore, EQF level 5).

These courses are organised by foundations that represent schools, universities, training centres, enterprises and local bodies.

VET for adults is offered by a range of different public and private providers. It includes programmes leading to upper secondary VET qualifications to ensure progression opportunities (upskilling) for the low-skilled; these are provided by provincial centres for adult education (centri provinciali per l'istruzione degli adulti, CPIA) under the remit of the education ministry.

Continuing vocational training (CVT) to meet enterprise, sectoral and regional needs is:

supported by the ESF and is managed by regions and autonomous provinces;
directly funded by the regions and autonomous provinces;
financed by joint inter-professional funds, managed by the social partners.

Distinctive features ( 2 )

Italian VET is characterised by multiple institutional actors at national and regional levels.

Article 117 of the Constitution provides for ownership either by the State, the regions or mechanisms for cooperation between the different institutions, relative to the type of education and training:

the State establishes general education standards;
regions have exclusive legislative power over VET;
education falls within the concurrent legislation, except for the autonomy of education institutions and vocational training.

Ministries of education and labour and the regions define, with formal agreements, matters of common interest with different responsibility levels.

Apprenticeship is available at all levels and programmes and is defined as an open-ended employment contract. Type 1 apprenticeship is offered in all programmes at upper secondary level and the IFTS. Type 3 apprenticeship (higher training/education apprenticeship) is offered in ITS programmes and all tertiary education leading to university degrees, ITS diplomas, and doctoral degrees. Type 2 apprenticeship does not correspond to any education level but leads to occupational qualifications recognised by the relevant national sectoral collective agreements.

In order to raise the level of digital skills, the first national strategy for digital skills, covering both the education and labour market sectors, was adopted in 2020.

The Italian VET system is characterised by multilevel complexity.

The promotion of the dual system in IeFP aims to relaunch apprenticeship with the allocation of new resources from the Government (MLPS) for the realisation of paths characterised by a high amount of in-company training (minimum of 400 hours per year) or virtual business simulation, and new individualised training plans.

To increase the formative value of work-based learning pathways, school-work alternance (ASL, Alternanza Scuola-Lavoro) has been replaced by transversal competence and guidance pathways (PCTO, Percorsi per le Competenze Trasversali e per l'Orientamento) in 2019. This will support the acquisition of interdisciplinary skills and raise learners' vocational awareness.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the government allocated EUR 201.7 million to support distance learning. Measures included the acquisition of digital devices for schools to enable learners to participate in distance learning. Other measures aimed to ensure equal access to all learners, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds. Also, the labour ministry has created a 'new skills fund' to supplement reduced working shifts with worker training.

In order to improve the labour market relevance of VET provision, the National repository for regional vocational qualifications (Repertorio nazionale delle figure nazionali di riferimento per le qualifiche e i diplomi professionali) was updated in 2019 and in 2020. Occupational profiles have been revisited and new qualifications and minimum training standards were introduced.

In order to tackle the high number of low-skilled people, the education ministry has promoted the national plan for 'guaranteeing the skills of the adult population'.

With the final adoption of the guidelines for the interoperability of awarding bodies responsible for the National system for competences certification (NSCC), referred to in the Inter-ministerial Decree of January 5, 2021, prepared in accordance with the Legislative Decree January 16, 2013, no 13, minimum standards for validation of non- formal and informal learning are defined.

The collaboration of training providers and SMEs is identified as a challenge. In order to improve this collaboration, regions and joint interprofessional funds have supported the training of teaching staff for developing new skills within the framework of enterprise 4.0 national plan and the new (digital) transition 4.0 plan ( 3 ).

Demographics

Population in 2020: 59 641 488 ( 4 ).

It decreased since 2015 by 1.9% due to the ageing of the population ( 5 ).

The old-age-dependency ratio is expected to increase from 37 in 2021 to 61 in 2070.

Population forecast by age group and old-age-dependency ratio

Source: Eurostat, proj_19ndbi [extracted 7.5.2021].

Demographic trends have an impact on school population, which in the 2018/19 academic year (most recent data available) stood at an overall total of 8 567 147 units and fell by 77 195 enrolments compared to the 2017/18 academic year (-0.9 percentage points), especially at lower secondary level (40 497 fewer learners, which suggests a fall of 0.7 percentage points). In the same period, the upper secondary school level population has increased (+10.22%), because of the number of foreign learners.

Since 2007, immigration has been a prevailing demographic growth factor. In 2016 it halved, while emigration nearly tripled.

The share of foreign learners increased by 27.3% between 2009/10 and 2018/19 (from 673 592 to 857 729), compared to a 6.8% fall in Italian learners (from 8 283 493 to 7 722 150). The share of foreign female learners was 48%.

In the period 2014/15 to 2018/19 (most recent data available), the number of Italian born 'foreign' learners increased from around 450 000 to 553 000 (an increase of almost 103 000 learners, approximately +23 percentage points). In 2018/19, 66.5% of learners with foreign nationality were born in Italy (83.3% in pre-primary education). In the 2018/19 school year (most recent data available), Italian repeat learners (i.e. those who need to repeat an academic year due to poor performance) were 9.1% against 30.1% of learners with non-Italian citizenship. We can find the maximum gap in secondary school, where the percentages become respectively 19.3% and 57.0%. Foreign learners often achieve lower marks in secondary education programmes.

Economics

Most companies in Italy are micro and small-sized ( 6 ).

Total: 4 404 501 enterprises, 17 287 891 employees.

Micro enterprises (0-9 employees): 95.1%

Small enterprises (10-49 employees): 4.3%

Medium enterprises (50-249 employees): 0.5%

Large enterprises (250 and more employees): 0.1%

Main economic sectors in Italy are:

machinery and equipment;
metalworking;
electronics and components;
chemicals;
textiles;
furniture;
food and beverage;
construction;
wholesale and retail trade;
accommodation and food service activities;
transport and logistics;
information and communications;
financial and insurance activities.

Export is very relevant for Italy and comprises several sectors, mainly machinery and equipment, textiles, furniture, transport equipment and vehicles, metalworking, food and beverage, electronics and components, and others.

The sectors most linked to VET are electronics and components, information and communications, financial and insurance activities, machinery and equipment, transport equipment and vehicles, and chemicals.

Labour market

Most occupations and professions are regulated, with the exception of some sectors of self-employment, especially in the southern regions.

In recent years, a series of legislative reforms, inspired by the European principle of flexicurity, have been introduced with the aim of introducing more elements of flexibility into active labour market policies, as well as new social security instruments.

Total unemployment ( 7 ) (2020): 8.0% (6.2% in EU-27): it has fallen by 2.0 percentage points since 2016 ( 8 ).

Unemployment rate (aged 15-24 and 25-64) by education attainment level in 2010-2020

NB: Data based on ISCED 2011; breaks in time series
ISCED 0-2 = less than primary, primary and lower secondary education.
ISCED 3-4 = upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education.
ISCED 5-8 = tertiary education.
Source: Eurostat, lfsa_urgaed [extracted 6.5.2021].

Unemployment is distributed unevenly between those with low- and high-level qualifications. The gap has increased during the crisis as unskilled workers are more vulnerable to unemployment.

The employment rate of 20 to 34 year-old VET graduates increased from 64.1% in 2016 to 65.1% in 2020 ( 9 ).

Employment rate of VET graduates (20 to 34 years old, ISCED levels 3 and 4)

NB: Data based on ISCED 2011; breaks in time series.
ISCED 3-4 = upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education.
Source: Eurostat, edat_lfse_24 [extracted 6.5.2021].

The increase (+1.0pp) in employment of 20 to 34 year-old VET graduates in 2016-20 was lower compared to the increase in employment of all 20 to 34 year-old graduates (+1.5 pp) in the same period in Italy ( 10 ).

For more information about the external drivers influencing VET developments in Italy please see the case study from Cedefop's changing nature and role of VET in Europe project ( 11 ).

VET learners by level

Share of learners in VET by level in 2019

lower secondary	upper secondary	post-secondary
Not applicable	53%	Not applicable

NB: Data based on ISCED 2011.

Source: Eurostat, educ_uoe_enrs01, educ_uoe_enrs04 and educ_uoe_enrs07 [Extracted 6.5.2021]

Share of initial VET learners from total learners at upper secondary level (ISCED level 3), 2019

NB: Data based on ISCED 2011.
Source: Eurostat, educ_uoe_enrs04 [extracted 6.5.2021].

Early leavers from education and training

The share of early leavers from education and training has decreased from 17.8% in 2011 to 13.1% in 2020. It is below the national target for 2020 but above the EU-27 average.

Early leavers from education and training in 2011-20

NB: Share of the population aged 18 to 24 with at most lower secondary education and not in further education or training.
Source: Eurostat, edat_lfse_14 [extracted 06.05.2021] and European Commission: https://ec.europa.eu/info/2018-european-semester-national-reform-programmes-and-stability-convergence-programmes_en [accessed 14.11.2018]

Participation in lifelong learning

According to Eurostat (Labour force survey ( 16 )), the share of 25 to 64 year-olds participating in education and training over the 4 weeks prior to the survey was 7.2% in 2020, which is lower than the EU-27 average of 10.8% in 2020 and the national target for 2020 of 12%.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant reduction in the level of adult participation in lifelong learning, which fell by 0.9 percentage points from 2019 to 2020.

Participation in adult education and training is influenced by individual socio-demographic characteristics. Those who participate most in learning paths are younger, educated people employed in skilled professions. The chances of being involved in training activities is lower among those who are poorly educated, are over 45 years of age, and are poorly qualified. Compared to the European average, Italy has lower levels of skills development, with a greater penalty for those with a low level of education and qualification. There is also greater training participation among the inactive population, probably due to the longer duration of tertiary education courses ( 17 ).

Participation in lifelong learning in 2009-2020

NB: Share of adult population aged 25 to 64 participating in education and training
Source: Eurostat, trng_lfse_01 [extracted 6.5.2021].

Occupation, together with education, is the principal determinant of unequal access to training: 11 percentage points separate the participation rate of the high-skilled (13.9%) compared to the low-skilled (2.7%). Italian values are lower for each age group and the gap compared to the European average is even more evident in the 35-44 age group. The Italian gap by level of education concerns only adults with low qualifications; for those with upper secondary and tertiary attainment, Italy is equal to European values ( 18 ).

Age is one of the most important factors in determining participation in lifelong learning. Data, from a generational perspective, show that involvement in training activities falls as age increases. Among those in employment, learning opportunities are predominantly concentrated among the most qualified professions. Italy still shows very low values for all professional categories, with training participation rates ranging from 13.9% of high-skilled employees to 2.7% of the least qualified employees ( 19 ). The data confirm that training tends to qualify further the already qualified, while the risk of exclusion tends to affect the categories of workers most vulnerable, not only for old age or low level of education but also for low qualification of profession ( 20 ).

The education and training system comprises:

pre-school education (ISCED level 0);
integrated primary and lower secondary education (ISCED levels 1 and 2) (hereafter first cycle of education);
upper secondary education (ISCED level 344, EQF 4 for general education) (ISCED levels 353-354, EQF 3-4 for vocational upper secondary options) (also called second cycle of education);
post-secondary education (IFTS, only vocational – ISCED level 453, EQF 4);
higher education (ISCED level 453, EQF 5 for higher technical programmes), ISCED level 667, EQF 6, ISCED levels 667-767 EQF 7, ISCED level 768-864, EQF 8).

Pre-school education is not compulsory and is provided by education services for children aged less than 3 years; for ages 3-6 it is available at pre-primary schools which operate under the responsibility of the education ministry.

Compulsory education starts at the age of 6 and lasts for 10 years up to 16 years of age. It covers the whole first cycle of education (primary and lower secondary and 2 years of the second cycle, upper secondary education).

The last 2 years of compulsory education can be attended either in an upper secondary school or within the regional VET system.

Upper secondary school education offers both general and vocational (technical and vocational) programmes. Duration of studies is 5 years. At the end of the upper secondary education, students who pass the final exam receive a certificate that gives them access to higher education.

The following institutes offer education at higher level:

universities (polytechnics included);
high level arts, music and dance education institutes (Afam);
higher schools for language mediators (SSML);
higher technical institutes (ITS).

Access to university, high-level arts, music and dance education institutes and higher schools for language mediator programmes is solely for students with an upper secondary school leaving certificate. The university and research ministry ( 22 ) and individual institutions establish the specific conditions for admission.

Courses at higher technical institutes (ITS) are accessible to students with an upper secondary leaving certificate and to students who have attended a 4-year regional vocational course followed by an additional 1-year course in the higher technical education and training system (IFTS). Higher technical institutes offer short-cycle bachelor programmes, according to the Bologna structure ( 23 ).

At upper secondary level the following VET programmes are offered:

5-year programmes (EQF level 4) at technical schools leading to technical education diplomas; at vocational schools leading to professional education diplomas. Programmes combine general education and VET, and can also be delivered in the form of alternance training. Graduates have access to higher education;
3-year programmes leading to a vocational qualification (EQF level 3);
4-year programmes leading to a technician professional diploma (EQF level 4).

At post-secondary level, VET is offered as higher technical education for graduates of 5-year upper secondary programmes or 4-year vocational education and training pathway programmes who passed entrance exams:

higher technical education and training courses (IFTS): 1-year post-secondary non-academic programmes leading to a high technical specialisation certificate (EQF level 4);
higher technical institute programmes (ITS): 2- to 3-year post-secondary non-academic programmes which lead to a high-level technical diploma (EQF level 5).

VET for adults is offered by a range of different public and private providers. It includes programmes leading to upper secondary VET qualifications to ensure progression opportunities for the low-skilled. These programmes are provided by provincial adult education centres (CPIA) under the remit of the education ministry.

Continuing VET (CVET) targets mainly employed people. Most resources for continuing training have been planned and managed by the regions and autonomous provinces (which have mainly used European social fund regional operational programmes as a source) and the social partners (through interprofessional funds).

CVET programmes pursue three goals:

the maintenance/upgrading of competencies and skills;
corporate competitiveness and innovation;
compulsory training.

Compulsory training comprises obligatory courses related to work specific requirements, for which the employer has to make sure that a worker received proper training tailored to the needs and conditions of the workplace. It is a mandatory training at the workplace: mandatory for the employer by law, for all employees in certain occupations, e.g. health and safety. There are also some obligatory training courses by law for some dangerous or potentially dangerous tasks (e.g. driving a fork lift), training for preventive services (occupational physicians may be required by law to do some training regularly, as may workers in the food sector in respect of compliance with hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) food protocol), training for safety representatives who deal with occupational safety and health questions at the enterprise level, and training for first aid measures (by law, a certain number of people have to be able to offer first aid) and for workers to protect themselves and others (e.g. fire drills).Beneficiaries can obtain a formal qualification.

Apprenticeship is one of the main education instruments used to integrate young people in the labour market. It is a permanent labour contract aimed at training young people and giving them employment and is one of the cornerstones of the Italian dual system. The training provided during apprenticeship is managed by the regions and autonomous provinces. Within the Jobs Act framework, Legislative Decree 81/2015 fundamentally revised related regulations. These innovations were mainly designed to enhance the appeal of apprenticeship contracts for companies and institutions because application performances are not yet satisfactory, in line with the general difficulties of the national economic and production system.

Apprenticeship in Italy designates a work contract with a specific training purpose; it includes both on-the-job and classroom training. The regions and autonomous provinces, together with social partners, are responsible for the definition of the training component and its implementation. The national collective labour agreements or inter-sectors agreement regulate apprenticeships in detail, with the obligation to respect some general principles. The apprenticeship contract, which is distinct from other work-based learning, must be drafted in written form, defining the roles and responsibilities of all parties, as well as the terms and conditions of the apprenticeship, the probationary period, the occupation tasks, wage increases, both the entry and final grade levels, and the qualification to be obtained. The training programme is an integral part of the contract. Both the contract and the training programme must be signed by the employer and the apprentice.

Since apprentices are considered employees, they are entitled to insurance benefits for job injuries and accidents, occupational diseases, health reasons, ageing and disability, maternity, household allowance and, since 1 January 2013, labour social security insurance.

The Jobs Act established that only enterprises with up to 50 employees can hire an apprentice if, in the previous 36 months, they retained 20% of their previous apprentices. Workers registered on so-called 'mobility lists' and unemployed people receiving unemployment allowance can take part in this scheme to qualify or requalify: usually they are offered a place on a 'professional' apprenticeship scheme, which is analysed below under the heading professional training apprenticeships.

The apprenticeship system includes three types of contract:

apprenticeships leading to a professional operator certificate and a professional technician diploma, an upper-secondary school diploma, a higher technical specialisation certification (IFTS) – level I apprenticeship.

These schemes are regulated by the regions and autonomous provinces through specific State-regions conference agreements. Content, which is divided into theoretical and practical learning, the specific qualifications offered, and the number of training hours, is established by the regions and autonomous provinces according to minimum standards agreed at national level. The duration of the contract is determined according to the certificate or diploma to be attained: it cannot exceed the training period nor be less than the national minimum standard. Apprenticeships leading to a professional operator certificate and a professional technician diploma allow young people to fulfil their right/duty to education and training. There are no specific entry requirements, but learners need to bridge the year between the end of lower-secondary school and the start of apprenticeship on an upper-secondary school or vocational education and training pathway programme, unless they are already 15 years old. These apprenticeship schemes last 3 or 4 years and offer the possibility to acquire qualifications at operator or technician level (in 22 and 21 occupation fields, respectively), professional operator certificate (European qualifications framework level 3) or professional technician diploma (European qualifications framework level 4). These qualifications are part of the national qualifications register. After obtaining the operator certificate, apprentices may proceed to the fourth year to obtain a technician diploma, in the same occupation. Access to university is possible after successful completion of secondary education and an additional 1-year course at an education institute. Apprenticeships for a higher technical specialisation certificate (European qualifications framework level 4) last a year and target young people who have fulfilled their right/duty to education and training.

professional training apprenticeships: these target 18 to 29 year-olds who want to acquire a qualification provided for in collective bargaining agreements and required on the labour market. Training comprises two parts: acquisition of key skills (120 hours over a 3-year period) regulated by the regions and autonomous provinces and provided by training centres and award a regional qualification; and acquisition of vocational skills for specific occupation areas provided directly by companies. The occupation areas and training content are defined by collective bargaining agreements. These programmes have a maximum duration of 3 years (exceptionally 5 years for the crafts sector).

higher education and research apprenticeships. This scheme leads to an array of qualification levels encompassing European qualifications framework levels 4-8. It targets 18 to 29 year-olds and fulfils various purposes. Learners can acquire qualifications that are normally offered through school-based programmes, in higher education or at universities, including a doctoral degree. Apprentices can also engage in research activities in private companies or pursue traineeship required to access the liberal professions (lawyer, architect, business consultant); the latter has not yet been regulated by collective bargaining. In agreement with the social partners and public education and training centres, the regions and autonomous provinces decide the duration of contracts and the organisation of programmes and ensure they are compatible with fully school-based curricula. They also define higher education credits learners obtain at schools, universities or training centres and the skills to be acquired through on the job training at a company. In the absence of a regional regulation, ad hoc arrangements between training institutes and companies are possible. Training cost allocation is defined by local authorities, based on national, regional and European social fund regulations.

In September 2015, at the State-regions-autonomous provinces conference, an agreement was signed for a trial of a dual VET system. The trial began in the 2015/16 training year and was an opportunity to develop further the Italian dual education system and to integrate education/training to combat youth unemployment.

The trial included two courses of action:

the development and reinforcement of the VET providers' placement system:
supporting VET pathways under dual VET. This action allowed young people to obtain a vocational qualification and/or diploma by following educational pathways that provide for an alternance between school and work experience (400 hours). More specifically, these pathways can be completed by means of apprenticeships and by simulated work training.

With an ad hoc ministerial Decree ( 24 ), the labour ministry has financially supported the establishment of the dual IVET system and has allocated annual funds to the regions for implementing dual VET. Consequently, the dual system in IVET is now solidified, the trialling period having ended in 2018 ( 25 ), and the labour ministry has entrusted the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) with the task to monitor the system in collaboration with the Regions.

Learn more about apprenticeships in the national context from the European database on apprenticeship schemes by Cedefop: http://www.cedefop.europa.eu/en/publications-and-resources/data-visualisations/apprenticeship-schemes/scheme-fiches

The education ministry defines the VET framework in national school pathways (technical and professional institutes) for higher technical education and training courses in agreement with the employment ministry). It has sole responsibility for higher technical institute programmes with regard to the definition of guidance documents and the monitoring and assessment of the training chain ( 26 ).

The education ministry also deals with redefining the higher technical institutes' national repertory of occupational profiles, with the introduction of new technical profiles and the updating of those already included in the inventory. The repertory is a list of occupational profiles which are taken into consideration in the design of training courses. Monitoring of higher technical institute courses is carried out by the National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research (INDIRE) ( 27 ).

The labour ministry defines the VET framework for interventions provided for within the scope of vocational education and training pathways, for higher technical education and training (in agreement with the education ministry), for training interventions for apprenticeships, and for continuing vocational training (CVET) provided within the scope of the public system.

The National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) monitors national vocational education and training pathways, apprenticeship training pathways and CVET interventions.

The regions and autonomous provinces are responsible for the planning, programming, organisation and implementation of interventions provided for within the scope of vocational education and training pathways, higher technical education, higher technical education and training, post-vocational education and training pathways, and post-university education for most types of apprenticeship-based training and for publicly funded CVET interventions (in agreement with the social partners).

Programming of higher technical education, and higher technical education and training, interventions, is provided for in specific planning documents known as three-year plans.

Through these documents, the regions and autonomous provinces define their strategy on the post-secondary education and training offer, bringing together and integrating the various supply chains of higher technical education, higher technical education and training hubs ( 28 ).

Social partners play an advisory role in the formulation of training policies and contribute to their interpretation into the pathways that then constitute the training offer. They also play a key part in promoting in-company, sectoral and territorial training programmes funded by the regions or realised thanks to joint interprofessional funds for continuing training; they help to elaborate and organise active policies in the labour market. Beyond their advisory role at national and local levels, social partners play a crucial part in professional apprenticeship regulation.

Italy makes a distinction between funds that are committed and dispensed. With respect to the sources of funding, both in terms of committed and dispensed funds, regional/provincial sources prevail. In short there are three sources of funding:

regional/provincial;
ministry of education;
ministry of labour.

Funding of vocational and training pathways (IeFP)

Vocational education and training pathways are an alternative channel to school for fulfilling the obligation to participate in education (with the legal requirement for all young people to attend school from age 6 to 16) and the right-duty to it (which must be guaranteed for at least 12 years or until attainment of an upper-secondary school qualification or a vocational qualification before the age of 18). Each year the labour ministry allocates EUR 175 million to the regions and autonomous provinces for the financing of vocational and training pathways, following criteria shared between the labour ministry and the regions.

Funding of higher technical education and training (IFTS) and higher technical education (ITS) courses

The funding methods used for higher technical education and training and higher technical education courses are the same. Monitoring shows a marked uniformity between the regions that use the European social fund to implement courses.

Funding of dual system

Starting from the year 2018, after an experimentation phase, approximately EUR 125 million have been allocated for the financing of the dual system. To promote apprenticeship pathways, Directorial Decrees (DD. No 3 of 19 of April 2019 and DD. No of 18 of March 2020) have provided for increasing funding opportunities.

Since 2018, the labour ministry has allowed regions to finance dual pathways with financial resources originally allocated only for VET pathways (see previous point funding IeFP). More specifically, regions, after having exhausted the financial resources provided for dual pathways, could employ in dual pathways the financial resources earmarked for VET pathways.

The aim is to introduce more flexibility in allocation funds and give regions the opportunity to increase the Type 1 apprenticeship with additional funds.

Funding of apprenticeships

Training activities for apprenticeship are funded by the labour ministry. Since 2017, the labour ministry has earmarked EUR 15 million annually for this activity (for funding training courses); the amount due to the regions is calculated on the basis of the number of apprentices with an apprenticeship contract and the number of apprentices on training pathways.

The regions and autonomous provinces jointly finance training activities dedicated to apprenticeships through their own resources or the resources of the European social fund.

Funding of continuing vocational training (CVET)

Continuing training interventions are funded using a variety of sources and tools. Most of the financial support for CVET derives from the so-called 0.30% contribution paid by private-sector enterprises to the National Institute for Social Security (INPS). This contribution was introduced by Law 845/1978 that provided for an increase (equal to 0.30%) in salaries subject to obligatory social security contributions that employers must pay for compulsory involuntary unemployment protection insurance.

Until 2003, this contribution was managed by the regions, which were provided financial resources for CVET through three channels: Law 236/1993, that had most of the revenue derived from this 0.30%; Law 53/2000, that provided for annual funding of a little under EUR 15 million; ESF, partly also funded by the 0.30% (part of the share allocated to the economy ministry).

Since 2004, joint inter-professional funds have been financed by INPS based on the choices made by enterprises that indicate directly which inter-professional fund they intend to subscribe to. This has led to an increase in the financial resources available for continuing learning and their reorganisation.

Finance for inter-professional funds comes from a part of the 0.30% of gross payroll compulsory involuntary unemployment contribution paid to INPS by all private-sector enterprises with employees. Each enterprise can choose which fund to subscribe to and INPS transfers resources accordingly. In total, INPS has transferred approximately EUR 6.5 billion to interprofessional funds since 2004, an average of EUR 500 million euro.

Resources from the 2014-20 European Social Fund operational programme allocated EUR 575 million to priority 8.v Adaptation of workers to change. That represents 7.03% of thematic objective 8 Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility and 3% of the total ESF over the 7 years. With an average overall annual national availability of a little under EUR 180 million, the adaptability axis funds the target of continuing training.

Also in 2018, tax relief was introduced for enterprises that invest in training (Law 205/2017). There are tax incentives and tax relief for enterprises that show they have spent on training activities designed to acquire or consolidate the technological skills provided for in National Industry Plan 4.0.

The New skills fund

Legislative Decree No 34 dated 19 May 2020 ( 29 ) (so called Decreto Rilancio) implemented several measures to support the Italian economy, severely affected by the COVID-19 emergency.

In line with the National skills strategy, the Decree has established the New skills fund, set up by the National Agency for Active Labour Policies (ANPAL), with the aim to invest in lifelong learning of workers and development of their competences.

The New skills fund, which initially had a budget of EUR 230 million, has been increased for 2020-21 to a total of EUR 730 million. This fund is dedicated to redefining working times, through trade union agreements, and keeping the same overall hours and salaries, in order to encourage training, reskilling and redeployment of workers.

More specifically, it provides for the possibility for company-level and local-level collective agreements to adapt working hours, as a result of changing organisational and production needs, assigning some hours to training courses.

The fund will cover the costs of training hours for workers, including the related social security and welfare contributions ( 30 ).

VET teacher types

In Italy, two main types of professionals are involved in VET: teachers and trainers. The professional profile of teachers is much more clearly defined and regulated than trainers as far as training, recruitment, duties and skills are concerned.

Teachers work mainly in State vocational schools but also in centres for adult education, in universities and higher technical institutes.

Teachers are regulated nationally and are employed by the education ministry. They are recruited through public selection (based on specific competition requirements and the need to pass a State exam) that results in with an employment contract which allows them to acquire the status of public employee.

Teachers' entry requirements are set at national level. To be enrolled, teachers must follow all these steps: a 5-year bachelor degree in specific teaching subjects (e.g. math, chemistry, foreign languages) and specific university courses in an anthropologic/psychologic/pedagogic subject and in teaching methods and technologies; a teaching habilitation in the specific subject that will be taught by means of a national examination, which also tests for a B2 level of a foreign language; after the habilitation the new teacher has to attend 1 year of probation/training to be enrolled.

Trainers mainly work in vocational training centres that are managed directly by the regional and provincial authorities, as well as in private vocational training centres accredited by the regions. Some trainers also work in companies, consultancy agencies, non-profit organisations and public employment services. There is no nationally recognised register of trainers or formal recruitment procedures. The national collective work contract only sets minimum access requirements to the training profession: a degree or an upper secondary school diploma plus professional experience in the relevant sector. Additionally, it establishes that – regardless of the role played in the different training contexts (tutor, counsellor, trainer coordinator) trainers should regularly participate in professional development programmes, either within or outside the institutions at which they work.

Continuing professional development of teachers/trainers

According to the law, teachers' in-service training is compulsory and continuing, without any specifications about duration. Teachers' in-service training must be in line with the school training supplies, the School improvement plan and the priorities of the education ministry; it must involve all open-ended contract teachers. Incentives are provided to support teachers' continuous professional development (CPD) and systematic need analysis mechanisms.

Training initiatives for teachers can be designed by the school individually or in a network, supporting collaboration with universities, research institutes, professional associations and accredited bodies. Each school has to draw up a teacher CDP plan that can include self-training, peer learning, research activities, but also workshops and working groups to deepen or improve specific subjects or skills. The plan must describe the main features of the training activities and the methods to assess and certificate training results.

VET trainers' in-service training is not formalised; it varies greatly, and participation is discretionary. The national collective labour contract of VET professionals states that all trainers have the right to take part in training initiatives. Training must be financed by the employer (by the VET centres) and must be considered as working time.

In public funded training, the national accreditation system has established that trainers and other professionals who run key functions must attend refresher programmes to upgrade their professional skills, but no indication has been given about duration. Regional accreditation systems have given more specifications about duration; some regions have set the obligation to draft a training plan for the whole staff. In-service training varies from region to region.

Training supply for trainers is determined by the free market; the most important providers are public and private training bodies and consortia, consultancy firms, professional associations, universities, social partners, Chambers of Commerce, and some business schools. Some sectoral professional associations also act as accrediting bodies in the private sector, in the area of business and management training (for example, the Italian Trainers' Association, AIF). Large companies or public administration departments with permanent internal training services usually contribute to the funding of these activities or invest directly in the continuing training of trainers.

Activities are mainly promoted by the regional authorities and funded by the ESF and by Joint inter-professional funds for continuing training (Fondi paritetici interprofessionali).

Universities provide VET teacher initial training on behalf of the education ministry in collaboration with the schools. The minimum requirement for accessing the teaching profession was – until 2018 (when a new recruitment system was developed) – a 5-year bachelor degree in specific teaching subjects (maths, chemistry, foreign languages). The 2018 system introduced, in addition to the degree requirement, the need for knowledge of psychological and pedagogical disciplines and didactic methodologies and technologies, validated by a successful, specific university examination.

Another fundamental feature (introduced in 2018) is the post-degree initial training and internship pathway (FIT). This is a three-year, salaried training pathway that educators must attend before being awarded a teaching post. Post-degree initial training and internship pathways are only accessed after passing a public examination. The post-degree initial training and internship pathway envisages gradual integration of aspiring teachers into the classroom environment and comprises:

theoretical training for the first year;
integrated training opportunities, with a work placement in a school and the start of specific training activities (short substitutions covering absences and lasting no more than 15 days) for the second year;
in the third year, teachers are awarded a vacant teaching position, with all the associated responsibilities.
after the completion of the 3-year course, if they pass the final examination they are offered a 3-year, renewable contract.

More generally, pre-service training of VET teachers is aimed at improving their teaching, psychological, pedagogical, organisational and social skills. Special attention is also given to improving their language and digital skills, in compliance with EU recommendations. Educators who wish to teach disabled people must also attend a specific course of study in formal education.

For many years, permanent training for VET teachers was considered an individual right under the national collective labour agreement, but it is now compulsory and regulated by the so-called Good School reform (Law 107/2015). This law 'establishes that teachers' in-service training is compulsory and continuing, provides incentives to support continuous teacher training and systematic need analysis mechanisms. Teachers' in-service training must be in line with the school plan and with the education ministry's priorities. Training must also involve all open-ended contract teachers'.

The regions (with employers' rights organisations and trade unions) define and plan the specific training measures aimed to develop the minimum skills required to carrying out the functions of a tutor.

Training measures for company tutors, which now cover almost all of Italy, have many distinctive features, due to the methodological requirements and the operational means used. Every regional entity may set different training activities.

More information is available in the Cedefop ReferNet thematic perspective on teachers and trainers ( 31 ).

Anticipating skill needs

For 15 years, surveys have been carried out in Italy that study the phenomenon of job needs (quantitative) and skill needs (qualitative) from perspectives both quantitative (which and how many occupational profiles companies predict they will need to recruit over the next few months) and qualitative (which skills, know-how and competences should be the focus of future refresher pathways for company employees).

These two surveys have been carried out by Unioncamere ( 32 ) (quantitative survey) and the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis, (INAPP former Institute for the Development of Vocational Training of Workers, ISFOL, qualitative survey) nationally, as well as occasionally regionally.

The results of these surveys are interpreted by integrating them with communication protocols ( 33 ), the Classification of occupations (CP 2011) and the Classification of economic activities (ATECO 2008). Since 1997, the Excelsior survey carried out by Unioncamere, has reconstructed an anticipation framework of labour demand and skill needs expressed by companies. Analytical information is collected on the characteristics of the personnel the company intends to hire: skilled labour, educational qualifications and training levels required, difficulty in finding these profiles, need for further training, previous experience, IT and language skills.

INAPP began to carry out research in 2006 designed to analyse existing professions and trades, with a view to providing a detailed description of changes in job content in the short- (next 12 months) and medium-term (next 5 years). Investigation methods were used that made it possible to interview entrepreneurs, corporate human resources managers or industry experts who could outline trends in key sectors of the economy.

The audit survey on professional needs, targeting a sample of about 35 000 companies with employees, aimed to collect qualitative information on the needs of companies in terms of the scarcity/lack of specific skills and know-how relating to the skilled workers they employed. The survey took place in 2017 and the following one is currently under way. Entrepreneurs were able to reflect and explain in great detail not the training that had been carried out over recent years, but what had to be done in the near future to satisfy specific needs.

In Italy, 33% of companies with at least one employee, just over half a million businesses, have declared they employ at least one person for whom they have registered a need within the next few months for specific refresher activities. The in-company professions for which the most pressing needs have been registered – with gaps that must be closed within the next few months via specific training activities – are those attributable to the large groups of skilled jobs in commercial and service activities (23.9%), artisans, specialist workers and farmers (22.9%) and technical professions (20%), followed by office-based managerial positions (18.3%).Skills needs are growing in some sectors of the economy: food and beverage, textiles, chemicals, electronics, commerce and tourism, education and health.

Information from these surveys, explore the professional and training needs of the labour market, provides indications to all stakeholders (including VET providers) of a complex education system with the task of planning and implementing vocational training and upskilling and reskilling training programmes (refresher pathways). There have been some interesting attempts to bring together the world of labour and training supply. Technical committees have been periodically tasked with reviewing and updating standards for occupational profiles, closely linked to vocational training supply chains (occupational profiles relating to vocational education and training pathways and higher technical education courses). Specific research and analysis activities are aiming to draw up other methodologies, designed to connect (even on a territorial level, the so-called 'curvature' process) the professional needs expressed by companies with the training aims and practices designed by those responsible for the various education options.

See also Cedefop's skills forecast ( 34 ) and European Skills Index ( 35 ).

Designing qualifications

Following the approval of Inter-ministerial Decree 8/1/2018 ( 36 ), Italy adopted a national qualifications framework. This is a tool to define and classify the qualifications issued within the national system of certification of competences, making it possible to create the national repertory of education and training qualifications and professional qualifications, hereafter the national repertory.

Thanks to the national qualifications framework, the institutional and technical process for cross-referencing qualifications issued within the national system to one of the eight levels of the European qualifications framework for lifelong learning is defined. The scope, descriptors and levels of the national qualifications framework are developed in coherence and continuity with European qualifications framework levels. The national qualifications framework and the Atlas of work and qualifications (hereafter the work atlas) ( 37 ) are the two components of the technical infrastructure of the national repertory.

The competences that compose the national repertory are defined and updated by the education ministry, the labour ministry, other ministries and regions and autonomous provinces that now have the possibility to use the descriptors of the work atlas (processes, activities and expected outcomes) as guideline criteria. These have been developed on a national level in collaboration with the regional authorities and are periodically updated, in line with the decree dated 30 June 2015.

The technical investigation part is done via a process conducted by the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) further to a request by, and in collaboration with, stakeholders who are sector experts; it is subsequently validated by the national technical group established in line with the 30 June 2015 decree.

The technical-institutional decision to create a national benchmark – a reference tool, organised along the lines of job descriptors – has constructed a shared system of technical elements around which to assess the relevance of the needs of the labour market to the competences already described in the national repertory; development of the competences is then possible, if necessary. The qualifications in the national repertory constitute the minimum national standard: reference to the public awarding body; description of competences in terms of skills, know-how, autonomy and responsibility; referencing to the economic activity statistical codes (ATECO) and the nomenclature and classification of occupations (CP-ISTAT), in compliance with national statistical system laws; and referencing to the national qualifications framework/European qualifications framework.

These elements are compulsory for all qualifications for the purpose of validation and certification within the national system of certification of competences, as well as for the purposes of portability in a European context. The descriptors of the atlas of work are referenced to national qualifications framework levels and are the only benchmarks for the process of comparison between the qualifications issued by the different public awarding bodies.

The national system of certification of competences is designed to be integrated with, and complementary to, public lifelong learning, in order to favour development of the cultural and professional skills acquired by individuals in formal and non-formal learning contexts and the portability of qualifications in both national and European contexts. The technical institutional system that has been developed since 2013 is the single benchmark for organisation of assessment tests, basically designed to ascertain the possession of competences, in line with Article 3, para. 1 of Legislative Decree 13 dated 16 January 2013.

Both components of the national repertory (the national qualifications framework and the work atlas) are anchored to the definition of competence intended as the proven ability to use – in work, study or professional and personal development situations – a complex set of skills and know-how acquired in formal, non-formal and informal learning contexts.

The work atlas has descriptions of one or more expected outcomes for each of the 903 areas of activity which make up the classification of economic and professional sectors. These express the outcome of an activity or a set of activities of a specific area of activity and include indications on the expected product/service, on the service to be provided, on any input elements and on the context and complexities expressed in terms of autonomy and responsibility.

The national qualifications framework provides the reference parameter to define and/or evaluate the elements for expressing the minimum expected outcomes, in relation to a specific qualification. It details what individuals should know and be capable of doing in relation to each of the eight levels that characterise the increasing complexity of learning for each of the descriptors of the competence (know-how, skills, autonomy and responsibility).

The Italian context is one of multiple institutional actors at national and regional levels.

National vocational school programmes that combine general education and VET ( 38 ) fall under the competence of education ministry that lays down general rules and common principles. Schools have the autonomy to include specific subjects.

Education and vocational training qualifications, which fall within the competence of the regions, are included in the national register of qualifications. These qualifications are the outcome of a technical and institutional process, deriving from the permanent conference for relations between the State, the regions and the autonomous provinces (a privileged forum for political negotiations between the central government and the regions), with the signing of a State-regions agreement. Any modification to the register requires a debate in this forum.

Specific information for VET programmes is presented below.

Initial VET programmes (IeFP).

Title V of the current Constitution provides that vocational and training pathways (IeFP) fall under the exclusive competence of the regions. This means that the State sets 'common standards' (essential levels of performance, LEP, defined by Legislative Decree 226/05) and regions define, by their own legislation, the system of vocational and training pathways, taking into account the characteristics and needs of the territory. Regions design the training provision. In 2011, regulations issued by the State-regions conference have introduced several important systemic elements: a set of training standards for basic skills to be developed in the 3- and 4-year programmes; a set of minimum standards (valid at national level) for technical and vocational skills in relation to the occupational profiles included in the national qualifications register ( 39 ) intermediate and final certifications that are valid at national level.

The national qualifications register created in 2011 contains the national occupational profiles and the corresponding qualifications and programmes or learning pathways, as well as minimum education and training standards (valid at national level). Qualifications leading to a certain national occupational profile need to be described in terms of learning outcomes and to be allocated the corresponding EQF level.

The update of the occupational profiles is made through an institutional process also involving social partners and approved in State-regions conference.

Legislative Decree 226/05 also defines the essential levels of competence assessment and certification. Regions ensure the fulfilment of essential levels related to the assessment and certification of competences: every year an examination commission made up of teachers and experts (as established in Article 19 of the decree) evaluate the level of achievement of learning outcomes; at the end of the pathways, students must pass an exam.

In 2019, with an agreement reached by the State-Regions Conference, the national repertory reference figures for the professional qualification and diploma, the minimum training standards of basic, technical and professional competences, and the intermediate and final certification models of the VET pathways, were renewed.

The labour ministry has allocated new national resources aimed at the promotion of the dual system in IeFP, for the implementation of pathways characterised by a high number of corporate training hours (minimum 400 annual hours) or enterprise simulation.

Technical and vocational school programmes ( 40 )

The education ministry defines by legislative decree, for each kind of pathway, the areas of the curriculum (agricultural, industry, etc.), the timetable of subjects and the educational cultural and professional profile ( 41 ) of learners. The educational cultural and professional profile is a document describing the skills, abilities and knowledge that the learner must possess at the end of pathways. Its purpose is as reference and guideline in defining the pathways curriculum.

Technical schools offer pathways in 11 areas allocated in two sectors: economic and technological ( 42 ).

Vocational schools offer pathways in six areas allocated in two sectors: service sector and industry and craft. Each school can decline these courses according to the local context consistent with the priorities indicated by the regions ( 43 ).

At the end of both pathways, learners must pass the State exam that consists of two written tests and an oral test. The first written test is common to all upper secondary education pathways, while the second is specific for each pathway. The education ministry defines by decree the evaluation grids for the assignment of the exam marks.

Higher technical education and training programmes (IFTS) ( 44 )

The institution of the higher technical education and training pathways is planned by the regions, within their exclusive competences in the planning of the training offer. At national level a joint Decree (2013) adopted by the education minister and the labour minister (in accordance with the State-regions conference) defines the 20 specialisation areas for the training offer and the minimum standard of skills. Additional skills may be further defined at regional level, based on the analysis of local professional needs and through consultation with institutions and social partners. At the end of pathways, learners must pass an exam for the assessment of competence acquired. The examination commission takes into account the indications of the region and is made up of representatives of the school, university, vocational training and the world of work.

Higher technical institutes (ITS) ( 45 )

Qualifications on offer from higher technical institutes are the result of a strong synergy between different actors: enterprises, universities/centres of scientific and technological research, schools, and local authorities. The qualifications are designed in six technological areas envisaged by Article 7 of the Prime Minister's Decree of 25 January 2008 (sustainable mobility, new technologies for life, new technologies for 'Made in Italy' products, innovative technologies for cultural heritage and tourism, information and communication technologies, energy efficiency) that are considered priorities to support the economic development and competitiveness of the Italian industry. For each area, national reference figures are identified to diversify the training offer so that it is consistent with the needs of the territory in which the higher technical institute operates: to date, there are 29 national reference figures. Each higher technical institute also defines, for each national reference figure, a specific technical professional profile based on the needs of the territory in which it operates. The 29 figures are characterised by a common cultural and professional profile and technical-professional skills. In particular, the course provides the following competences: basic (language, communication and social, scientific and technological, legal and economic, organisational and managerial) and technical-professional competences.

At the end of the courses, learners must pass a final exam for the assessment of competences acquired through the process. The examination board is made up of representatives of the training provider (e.g. school, university, vocational training) and experts from the labour market.

Within the education and training system, the various segments and pathways are accountable to different competent bodies on matters relating to quality assurance.

In terms of issuing general laws on education and defining essential levels of provision on educational matters, upper secondary education and higher technical education are regulated on a national level by the education ministry.

A national evaluation system was established by Presidential Decree 80/2013 within the national education and training system. Its aim is evaluating system efficiency and efficacy, contextualising the evaluation on an international level.

At least every 3 years, the education ministry issues strategic priorities on the evaluation of the education system that, with reference to the vocational education and training system, are defined by guidelines adopted in agreement with the State-regions conference and the labour ministry.

The National Institute for the Evaluation of the Education and Training System (INVALSI) ( 46 ) operates within the national evaluation system.

Its primary tasks are:

to guarantee the functional coordination of the national evaluation system;
to propose evaluation protocols and plan visits to schools by external evaluation units;
to define efficiency and efficacy indicators to identify the school and training institutes that require support and need to be externally evaluated as a priority;
to make tools for realising actions linked to evaluation available to individual schools and training facilities;
to define indicators for the evaluation of school directors;
to handle the selection, training and inclusion on special lists of external evaluation unit experts;
to draft a periodic report on the education and training system;
to take part in international surveys and other initiatives relating to evaluation.

A key role for improving the quality of the system is played by the National Institute for Documentation, Innovation and Educational Research (INDIRE) ( 47 ), which provides support to school institutes in defining and implementing plans to improve the quality of the training offer and the learning outcomes of students, which schools and training institutes independently adopt.

It supports innovation processes centred on the use and diffusion of new technologies, activating research projects designed to improve didactics, as well as interventions linked to consultancy and the training of teaching, administrative and managerial personnel.

Article 6 of Presidential Decree 80/2016 provides for the evaluation procedure of the school and training institute, a procedure which should be organised in four phases:

self-evaluation: self-analysis and verification of the service provided based on the data made available by the education ministry's own information system; surveys on learning and data on added value provided by national institute for the evaluation of the education and training system, and other significant elements integrated by the school itself. This is the first step of self -evaluation. The second step is the preparation of a self-evaluation report in electronic format, based on a reference framework provided by the national institute for the evaluation of the education and training system, and the formulation of an improvement plan;
external evaluation: the first step is the identification of the situations to be evaluated, based on the efficiency and efficacy indicators defined by national institute for the evaluation of education and training system. The second step consists of unit visits. The third step is the redefinition of improvement plans based on the outcomes of the analysis carried out by the units;
improvement actions: this phase consists of the definition and implementation of improvement interventions, including those with the support of the national institute for documentation, innovation and education research or through collaboration with universities, research bodies, professional and cultural associations;
social reporting: publication and dissemination of the results achieved, through indicators and comparable data, both in terms of transparency and of sharing and promoting improvement of the service with the community.

The national evaluation system comprises the evaluation of school directors and of learning. It is carried out by the national institute for the evaluation of education and training system, through periodical and systematic checks on the skills and know-how of students and the overall quality of the training offer at education and vocational education and training institutes, including in the context of lifelong learning.

In relation to the promotion of quality assurance and quality culture in VET, a key role is also played by the Italian National Reference Point (NRP) of EQAVET, hosted by the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) ( 48 ).

The NRP supports the implementation of the European Recommendation on VET and the Osnabrück Declaration and the national process for improving quality assurance, disseminating scientific and technical knowledge and those practices and tools for continuous improvement, self-evaluation and quality assurance; it also supports VET providers in the implementation of self-assessment and peer review based on the European peer review methodology.

The NRP carries out the following activities:

information for the main national and regional stakeholders on European guidelines and initiatives;
collection and comparative analysis of national and international tools and methodologies;
dissemination and share of best practices on quality assurance;
support to the implementation of innovative quality assurance methodologies, such as self-assessment and peer review;
promotion and support for the implementation of the National Plan for Quality in VET.

The NRP also coordinates the National Board under the auspices of the labour ministry. The National Board includes as members the main stakeholders and representatives of the national institutions involved in the issue of quality assurance in VET:

Ministry of Labour and Social Policy;
Ministry of Education;
Ministry of Universities and Research;
regions;
social partners;
training providers;
education institutions.

Italy's legislative framework for the recognition of prior learning was put into place with the Legislative Decree 13/2013, which established the national system of certification of competences, and the inter-ministerial decree of June 2015, which defined the operational framework for the recognition of regional qualifications at the national level.

On 5 January 2021, in agreement with the Ministries of Labour, of Education, of University and Research, of Public Administration and of Economy and Finance, Italy adopted the guidelines for the interoperability of awarding bodies of the National system of certification of competences ( 49 ).

The guidelines, also agreed by the regions and autonomous provinces, set the rules for operationalising the services of the competent public bodies for the identification, validation and certification of competences acquired in formal, non-formal and informal contexts, in support of the individual's right to lifelong learning (Law No 92 of 2012). They also complete the regulatory framework of the National system for the certification of competences (Legislative Decree No 13 of 2013 ( 50 ).

According to the decree, competences specific to certain qualifications related to the national repertory are referenced to the national qualifications framework (NQF), are subject to identification, validation and certification. The national repertoire was included in the Atlas of work and qualifications. The terminology is created by the National Institute for Public Policy Analysis (INAPP) to support the technical group responsible for the national framework.

The competences are assessed on request and may also be recognised by public bodies (subject to internal arrangements) in terms of credits to aid their portability.

The labour ministry collects data by competent bodies, as well as through INAPP and the National Agency for Active Labour Market Policies (ANPAL) and submits them to the national technical committee to verify that minimum service standards and performance indicators are met.

The Italian regions are the main hub for services for labour and vocational training on the territory. Within the system supporting active labour or vocational training policies, they are tackling the issue of the certification and validation of competences, contextualising and differentiating tools and approaches.

The 30 June 2015 ( 51 ) decree also included measures relating to the functions required for providing validation and certification services:

accompanying and supporting identification of the competences and making them transparent;
planning and implementation of assessment activities;
implementation of assessment activities on aspects relating to curricula and professional contents.

The Decree describes the tasks and activities that personnel responsible for providing services for the identification, validation and certification of competences should exercise in the various phases of the process: access to the service/welcoming; recognition/identification; and assessment and certification. The European qualifications framework level for each function is also indicated.

It should be noted that regions, in their position as awarding bodies, offer a direct guarantee on the criteria and methods adopted for recruitment of personnel entrusted with providing such functions and verification of their professional requisites, in compliance with the principles of collegiality, neutrality, impartiality and independence. In those regions where the regional rules and services system is already accessible, provider competence training has already been planned and implemented. Where work is still in process to make services operational, the debate on professional resources is part of a more general framework regarding system standards.

To help develop and raise awareness of the theme, INAPP has prepared a multimedia training package, which has been designed in an open-source environment (Moodle) and provided on a MOOC (massive online open course) platform, to transfer all the information, know-how, methodologies and tools useful for managing the various phases of the process to service providers.

For more information about arrangements for the validation of non-formal and informal learning please visit Cedefop's European database ( 52 ).

Individual vouchers and other subsidies

Both the regions and autonomous provinces, and the inter-professional joint funds, finance personalised continuing vocational training (CVET) programmes, through vouchers for tailored training interventions and other tools, such as 'endowment' ( 53 ), mainly targeted to the employed.

Incentives for the unemployed

Tuscany has experimented with re-employment allowances ( 54 ), integrating them with training vouchers and recruitment incentives. The initiative targets the unemployed, whether or not in receipt of social security benefits, and the economically inactive. The training activities that can be funded using the voucher system envisage both pathways for qualifying and certifying skills relating to one or more segments of a certain profile and regulated training (qualifications, certificates, etc.). After training it will be possible to spend re-employment cheques to purchase services for assistance with reintegration. The scheme envisages a service pact after the voucher has been granted.

In 2017, the region of Apulia funded individual vouchers for the unemployed and those in a state of non-employment (earners of incomes below the taxable threshold), to be spent on standard regional training offers ( 55 ). The pathways funded with vouchers (with a maximum duration of 400 hours) focus on basic or transversal skills (English, basic IT skills, communication skills) or regulated training (authorisations, certificates, qualifications) or on technical-professional skills, with reference to the professional skills present in the regional repertory.

Incentives for employees

The region of Tuscany funded, in 2017, individual training vouchers targeting managers, directors and young professionals. The use of this tool is ideal for those who can autonomously choose and orient their vocational pathways according to professional experiences already undertaken or by means of consolidated basic technical training.

Vouchers for managers aim to favour training for skills and know-how useful to the enterprise when making choices linked to technological, organisational and managerial innovation and business models, in order to develop the Industry 4.0 paradigm.

Vouchers for young professionals ( 56 ) (self-employed under 40 years of age) aim to support the training of professionals starting their career and facing economic difficulty in paying for their training or even accessing a training programme in the first place. Access to training programmes stems from obligations imposed by compulsory training, i.e. by training which comprises obligatory courses related to specific work requirements.

The regions of Piedmont and Liguria have funded individual learning activities using standard individual training vouchers for employed workers (with a maximum of EUR 3 000 per capita) ( 57 ).

In addition, every year the Inter-professional joint funds finance, through calls for tenders, individual training vouchers that can be used for enrolment in inter-company training courses.

Study leave

Under provisions of Law 53/2000 ( 58 ), the regions and autonomous provinces grant leave for training for workers, acknowledging their right to lifelong training.

Tax credits, exemptions and reductions in social security contributions

The 2018 Budget Law established that tax credit for 4.0 training is granted to enterprises for 40% of the expenses relating to the corporate cost of salaried personnel for the time they are occupied in training activities. This can amount to a maximum of EUR 300 000 per year for each enterprise and is granted for stipulated training activities, thanks to corporate or territorial collective contracts ( 59 ). The training activities permissible for requesting tax credits must involve issues connected to the introduction of digital technology innovations: big data and data analysis, cloud and fog computing, cyber security, cyber-physical systems, rapid prototyping, visualisation and augmented reality systems, advanced and collaborative robotics, man-machinery interface, additive manufacturing, the internet of things and machines and the digital integration of corporate processes.

The 2019 Italian Financial Law has introduced a new measure, the Transition plan 4.0, aiming to support enterprises in the transition toward the 4.0 model. In this Law ( 60 ), all the previous government interventions are included (Industry 4.0, 2017-18).

The 2019 financial Law also provides a non-refundable contribution, as a voucher aimed at introducing the profile of innovation manager within the enterprises. The goal is to support the technological and digital transition processes of SMEs, as well as company networks, through the introduction of managerial profiles able to implement the technologies provided in industry 4.0.

The voucher is for those SMEs and company networks that have hired managerial resources to encourage digitalisation and corporate reorganisation processes. The maximum voucher amount is EUR 40 000 per annum; it may not exceed 50% of the costs incurred starting from the 2019 tax period, increased to EUR 80 000 for enterprise networks.

Enterprises that recruit young people on a level 1 apprenticeship contract (i.e. at upper secondary level) are totally exempt from social security payments for the hours the apprentice spends on external training. For the duration of on-the-job training they are granted a substantial reduction in the social security payments owed.

Law 232/2016 introduced financial incentives for companies involved in dual training. To facilitate the recruitment of young people on a permanent contract in the same company where they were on alternance contracts or types 1 or 3 apprenticeship, certain types of enterprise (such as those with fewer than 10 employees) are entitled to total social security exemption for the first 3 years. In the fourth year they will pay 10% of taxable social security contributions.

Companies with more than nine employees pay a contribution, for the entire duration of the apprenticeship, equal to 11.61% of the taxable social security contribution.

Wage subsidy and training remunerations

Employers willing to offer apprenticeships can hire an apprentice at an entry grade level up to two levels lower than the final qualification to be obtained and/or pay a salary equal to a percentage of the salary of a qualified worker, according to the provisions of the collective agreement applied.

Other incentives

Several Italian regions (for example, Piedmont and Liguria) also fund standard enterprise training vouchers (for varying amounts, depending on the size of the enterprise). Enterprise vouchers are a simplified management method designed for small enterprises that generally find it difficult to organise structured training courses.

Guidance within the VET system is promoted and implemented through different initiatives at national, regional, and local levels. Education and career guidance is provided by teachers and school counsellors, as well as external guidance experts and professionals. The aim of the provision of guidance activities is to improve self-knowledge and self-assessment of personal capacities, attitudes and expectations. According to Law no107/2015, in order to ensure a smoother transition into the labour market, all upper secondary schools (from general education to vocational education and training) are requested to provide school-to-work transition pathways. These pathways were a guidance path for students, allowing them to know different work-based contexts and, consequently, to aid choices among the training opportunities.

In October 2019, the Italian education ministry published a set of guidelines on pathways for transversal skills for guidance purposes ( 61 ). These pathways (PCTO) replaced the school-to-work transition pathways. The guidelines stress the guidance potential of these pathways which, fostering a self-guidance approach, support students in making more informed choices in relation to personal, educational and professional development ( 62 ).

Italian employment agencies offer the following specific activities relating to guidance and counselling services (Law 150/2015):

basic guidance, analysis of competences in relation to the local labour market and profiling;
help in job-seeking, including through group sessions, within 3 months of registration;
specialist and tailored guidance using competence assessment and needs analysis in terms of training, work experience or other active employment policy measures, with reference to adaptation of the profile to the demand for labour expressed on a territorial, national and European level;
tailored guidance to self-employment and mentoring through the subsequent start-up phases;
job placement, including through the use of the tailored outplacement indemnity.

Please see:

guidance and outreach Italy national report ( 63 );
Cedefop's labour market intelligence toolkit ( 64 );
Cedefop's inventory of lifelong guidance systems and practices ( 65 ).

Vocational education and training system chart

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Programme Types

EQF 3-4

Regional VET (leFP),

WBL: 30%,

3-4 years

ISCED 353

EQF 4

Technical and

vocational school

programmes

5 years

ISCED 354

EQF 4

IFTS programmes,

1 year,

WBL: 30%

ISCED 453

EQF 5

Higher

Technical programmes (ITS),

WBL: 30%,

2-3 years

ISCED 554

Initial Regional (leFP), VET programmes leading to EQF level 3 and EQF level 4, ISCED 353 (Vocational Education and Training pathways – (Istruzione e Formazione Professionale IeFP)
EQF level	3-4	ISCED-P 2011 level	353
Usual entry grade	9	Usual completion grade	11-12
Usual entry age	14-15	Usual completion age	17-18
Length of a programme (years)	4 (up to)
Is it part of compulsory education and training?	Yes Full time education is compulsory until the age of 16, but young people must stay in education or training until age 18 to accomplish 12 years of education and/or vocational training (right/duty).	Is it part of formal education and training system?	Yes
Is it initial VET?	Y	Is it continuing VET?	N
Is it offered free of charge?	Yes For State-owned schools and regional VET programmes	Is it available for adults?	N

ECVET or other credits	Not applicable
Learning forms (e.g. dual, part-time, distance)	school-based learning; work practice (practical training at school and in-company practice); self-learning; apprenticeships.
Main providers	Training providers accredited for IVET (IeFP) and State professional institutes in a subsidiarity status
Share of work-based learning provided by schools and companies	<=70%
Work-based learning type (workshops at schools, in-company training / apprenticeships)	practical training at school in-company practice
Main target groups	Programmes are available for young people.
Entry requirements for learners (qualification/education level, age)	Learners must hold a lower secondary school leaving diploma and have passed the relevant State examination (final State examination of the first cycle of education).
Assessment of learning outcomes	Learners need to pass a final examination. The objective of the exam is the assessment of basic, technical-professional and transversal competences as well as multidisciplinary written, oral and practical tests. For these, the learners must take a practical test and draw up a technical sheet; they must also take an oral test. The participation of two sector (labour market) experts, as members of the examination committee is a prerequisite.
Diplomas/certificates provided	Upon completion of a 3-year programme, learners obtain a professional operator certificate (EQF level 3); upon completion of a 4-year programme learners obtain a professional technician diploma (EQF level 4).
Examples of qualifications	Clothing operator, footwear operator, building specialist, graphic specialist, construction operator, construction technician ( 66 ), etc.
Progression opportunities for learners after graduation	Those who obtain a professional operator certificate can attend 1 additional year leading to a professional technician diploma. Those who obtain the professional technician diploma (i.e. complete the 4-year programme) may enrol onto the fifth year of the technical or vocational schools programmes (EQF 4-ISCED 354) and obtain a general, technical or professional education diploma or enrol in a higher technical education and training programme and obtain the higher technical specialisation certificate.
Destination of graduates	Information not available
Awards through validation of prior learning	Information not available
General education subjects	Yes
Key competences	Information not available
Application of learning outcomes approach	Yes They refer to minimum level of basic competences as well as to general and specific technical- professional competences in terms of learning outcomes.
Share of learners in this programme type compared with the total number of VET learners	>1% ( 67 )

Initial VET, technical and vocational school programmes leading to EQF level 4, ISCED 354 (programmi quinquennali negli istituti tecnici o professionali)
EQF level	4	ISCED-P 2011 level	354
Usual entry grade	9	Usual completion grade	13
Usual entry age	14	Usual completion age	18-19
Length of a programme (years)	5
Is it part of compulsory education and training?	Yes Full-time education is compulsory until the age of 16, but young people must stay in education or training until age 18 to accomplish 12 years of education and/or vocational training (right/duty).	Is it part of formal education and training system?	Yes
Is it initial VET?	Y	Is it continuing VET?	N
Is it offered free of charge?	Yes For State-owned schools	Is it available for adults?	Y

ECVET or other credits	Not applicable
Learning forms (e.g. dual, part-time, distance)	school-based learning (contact studies, including virtual communication with the teacher/trainer); work practice (practical training at school and in-company practice); self-learning; apprenticeship.
Main providers	Schools
Share of work-based learning provided by schools and companies	<=70%
Work-based learning type (workshops at schools, in-company training / apprenticeships)	practical training at school in-company practice
Main target groups	Programmes are available for young people and adults with lower secondary qualifications.
Entry requirements for learners (qualification/education level, age)	Learners must hold a lower secondary education certificate (school leaving diploma) and have passed the relevant State examination (final State examination) of the first cycle of education.
Assessment of learning outcomes	At the end of upper secondary school education, learners who successfully pass the final State examination of the second cycle of education receive a certificate diploma that gives them access to higher education or higher technical education and training programmes.
Diplomas/certificates provided	Learners who successfully pass the final State examination of the second cycle (upper secondary VET) of education receive, depending on the kind of secondary school (technical or vocational) the upper secondary education diploma – technical schools – or the upper secondary education diploma – vocational schools.
Examples of qualifications	Catering operator, wellness operator, etc. ( 68 )
Progression opportunities for learners after graduation	Those who complete VET can enter the labour market or continue their studies in tertiary education (EQF level 6) or higher technical education and training pathways (ITS (EQF level 5 or IFTS-EQF level 4).
Destination of graduates	Information not available
Awards through validation of prior learning	Information not available
General education subjects	Yes
Key competences	Information not available
Application of learning outcomes approach	Yes The specific regulations for each training provision include learning outcomes expressed in terms of knowledge, skills and competences. The student's education, cultural and professional profile indicates: (a) the general learning outcomes which shall be shared by all pathways; (b) the learning outcomes which shall be peculiar to the specific pathways of technical and vocational schools; in compliance with the EQF provisions, learning outcomes shall be described in terms of competences, skills and knowledge in this case as well.
Share of learners in this programme type compared with the total number of VET learners	>1% ( 69 )

Post-Secondary, IFTS, 1 year-long, VET programmes leading to EQF level 4, ISCED 453 (Istruzione e Formazione Tecnico Superiore)
EQF level	4	ISCED-P 2011 level	453
Usual entry grade	13+	Usual completion grade	13+
Usual entry age	19	Usual completion age	20
Length of a programme (years)	1
Is it part of compulsory education and training?	No	Is it part of formal education and training system?	Yes
Is it initial VET?	Y	Is it continuing VET?	N
Is it offered free of charge?	Yes	Is it available for adults?	Y

ECVET or other credits	Not applicable
Learning forms (e.g. dual, part-time, distance)	school-based learning work practice self-learning apprenticeship
Main providers	Schools/training centres: these pathways are designed and managed by at least four training partners (a school, a vocational training centre, a university, an enterprise or another public or private centre) which formally cooperate Enterprises
Share of work-based learning provided by schools and companies	<=70%
Work-based learning type (workshops at schools, in-company training / apprenticeships)	in-company practice
Main target groups	Programmes are available for young employed and unemployed people and adults with an upper secondary education diploma.
Entry requirements for learners (qualification/education level, age)	Learners must hold an upper secondary education diploma. Higher technical education and training courses are also open to: holders of a professional technician certificate; young people admitted to the fifth year of general upper secondary education (Liceo); people who do not have an upper secondary education qualification, but had their educational, training and vocational experiences validated.
Assessment of learning outcomes	To complete a VET programme, learners need to pass a leaving examination, based on the features characterising regional labour markets and referring to nationally defined and established in State-regions agreements occupational profiles.
Diplomas/certificates provided	Higher technical specialisation certificate (Certificato di specializzazione tecnica superiore)
Examples of qualifications	Higher technical specialisation certificate in Assistant manager for travel agency and tour operator ( 70 ).
Progression opportunities for learners after graduation	Those who complete VET can enter the labour market or higher technical programmes (ITS).
Destination of graduates	Information not available
Awards through validation of prior learning	Yes Higher technical specialisation qualifications are based on a system of minimum levels of general (basic and transversal standards) and technical-professional competences ( 71 ), nationally recognised and structured into course credits (Unità Capitalizzabili – UC). There's no possibility to acquire partial qualifications.
General education subjects	Information not available
Key competences	Information not available
Application of learning outcomes approach	Yes Level description includes learning outcomes descriptors in terms of competence and knowledge; they are also provided with assessment criteria.
Share of learners in this programme type compared with the total number of VET learners	<1% ( 72 )

Post-secondary, higher technical programmes (ITS), 2-3 years-long, VET programmes leading to EQF level 5, ISCED 554 (Istruzione Tecnica Superiore).
EQF level	5	ISCED-P 2011 level	554
Usual entry grade	13+	Usual completion grade	13+
Usual entry age	19+	Usual completion age	19+
Length of a programme (years)	3 (up to)
Is it part of compulsory education and training?	No	Is it part of formal education and training system?	Yes
Is it initial VET?	Y	Is it continuing VET?	N
Is it offered free of charge?	Yes	Is it available for adults?	Y Anyone holding an upper secondary education diploma can access higher technical education courses.

ECVET or other credits	Not applicable
Learning forms (e.g. dual, part-time, distance)	school-based learning; work practice; self-learning; apprenticeships
Main providers	schools; training centres; enterprises. Higher technical institutes (ITS) are established on the basis of regional territorial plans and should be considered as specific types of participative foundations. The organisational standard states that founders of these institutes may be: an upper secondary school, both technical or vocational, State or fully recognised; a training centre accredited by the region for the purpose of higher training; an enterprise operating in the same production area as the higher technical school; a university department or another organisation operating in the field of scientific and technological research; a local institution (municipality, province, mountain community, etc.).
Share of work-based learning provided by schools and companies	<=70%
Work-based learning type (workshops at schools, in-company training / apprenticeships)	practical training at school in-company practice
Main target groups	Programmes are available for young people employed or unemployed and for adults (both need to hold an upper secondary education diploma).
Entry requirements for learners (qualification/education level, age)	Learners must hold an upper secondary education diploma (either general or vocational).
Assessment of learning outcomes	Learners must pass a final examination, conducted by examination committees consisting of representatives of the school, university, vocational training and experts from the world of work.
Diplomas/certificates provided	VET learners receive a higher technical diploma upon successful completion.
Examples of qualifications	Higher technician for the mobility of people and goods ( 73 ).
Progression opportunities for learners after graduation	Those who complete VET can enter the labour market.
Destination of graduates	Information not available
Awards through validation of prior learning	Information not available
General education subjects	Information not available
Key competences	Information not available
Application of learning outcomes approach	Yes
Share of learners in this programme type compared with the total number of VET learners	<1% ( 74 )

EU Member States

Other

Italy

General themes

Vocational education and training system chart

Programme Types