Italy has set itself the strategic objective of strengthening VET, recognising the important role that it can play in supporting its enterprises and empowering its people. The recent policy package focuses on the youth guarantee scheme and measures to reduce red tape for enterprises and promote inter-firm cooperation. These reflect the need to link education and training better with the labour market, extend work-based learning schemes, ensure teachers’ and trainers’ professional development, and strengthen vocational guidance. The initiative to offer apprenticeship-type schemes in higher education and in fields of studies and types of programmes that are traditionally perceived as general and academic education is innovative. Within the context of the European alliance of apprenticeship it will be important to see and discuss how these offers will be taken up by education and training providers, learners and enterprises.

This report provides an insight into the Italian VET system. By presenting its main features and current developments, Cedefop hope that it will contribute to a better understanding of VET in Italy, the challenges ahead and the policy measures devised.

Doi: 10.2801/81827