Italy: reform of higher technical institutes (ITS Academy)

ITSs were set up in Italy by Prime Ministerial Decree of 2008, aiming to training highly specialised technicians who can quickly enter a production system that is increasingly in need of technical and technological skills.

The reform and its implementation are a milestone (funding prerequisite) of the Italian Resilience and Recovery Plan – also included in the National Implementation Plan of the Council Recommendation on VET – and will be implemented in synergy with regional and local stakeholders.

Changing their name is a significant action, as it puts an end to national confusion, places emphasis on the uniqueness of ITSs, aims to improve wider public awareness, and redefines the whole approach on skills – moving from specific know-how to the acquisition of a wider skillset that allows one to cope with a constantly changing labour market.

The replacement of the term ‘technical’ with ‘technological’ also implies a different approach: the emphasis is not only on training qualified technicians with specific technical know-how but on a renewed ability to define new professional skills capable of governing technological evolution.

There are no changes in enrolment requirements to the new ITS system: learners need an upper secondary school diploma or an IFTS specialisation. The sectoral coverage will be formalised with an upcoming Decree (for the time being, ITSs focus on specific  technological areas).  It is foreseen to focus on strategic areas related to ecological transition, the digital transition, national branding (‘Made in Italy’) and specialised craftsmanship. The ITS Academies must develop innovative training programmes strongly relevant to labour market needs. Moreover, the reform clearly requires ITS Academies to ensure that 50% of the teaching staff comprises professionals from the world of work, and that professionals should teach at least 60% of the curriculum. In-company training and internship may be performed abroad, will be supported by appropriate scholarships, and should form 35% of the taught curriculum.

The reform envisages two types of course: a standard 4-semester course for a total of 1 800 hours, leading to a higher technical diploma (EQF level 5); 3-year courses for a total of 3 000 hours, and the award of a higher technical diploma equivalent to EQF level 6.

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Law n. 99-Establishment of the Tertiary system of Higher technological education