Italian Education System

High school/vocational schoolStudents have the choice between two courses of study:

- Grammar schools - Education and Training

• ability to switch from one location to another and change of focus within the same path, through appropriate educational initiatives offered by the school

• over 15 years of age ,different learning types: – full-time study, – school-work with internship;– apprenticeship

• orientation in the last year leads to the choice of the upper path: universities, colleges, higher vocational education for labor and professions

High schoolEveryone can choose a school of art,

classical humanities, economic, linguistic, musical, scientific, technological

Vocational schoolafter 3 years : • first qualifying expendable in the workplace and

recognized at national and European level

• Every one can achieve further qualifications expendable in the workplace and in access to higher technical training

• With a qualification of at least four years, students can attend a year of preparation for the state exam, which if passed, they can attend university and enroll in High level art, music and dance education

The Italian Higher Education System

Italian higher education is structured in a dual system, consisting of two main directions:

- the university sector

- the non-university sector.

University- 58 State universities

- 17 non-State universities (legally recognised by the State)

- 2 universities for foreigners

- 6 higher schools specialised in postgraduate university studies

- 6 distance learning universities

The non university sectorIncludes 4 education typologies with their institutions:

• higher schools of design: polytechnics for the arts, academies of fine arts, higher institutes for applied arts, music conservatories and recognized music institutes, higher institutes for musical and choreographic studies, national academies

• higher education in language mediation: higher schools for language mediators

• higher integrated education (FIS): programs of higher technical education & training (IFTS) Institutes of technology

• a few specific fields (e.g. archiving, diplomatic, restoration, military studies, etc.) which, along with their respective institutions, fall under the supervision of ministries other than Education.

Private Vocational Schools• Private training centres, accredited by

Regional vocational training departments, run qualification courses in several fields

The 5 Main Subject Areas• Health: dentistry, pharmacy, human medicine & surgery, midwifery,

nursing, physical and rehabilitation therapy, preventive care, technical sanitary assistance;

• Humanities: arts (performing, visual, fashion, music), cultural heritage, education, geography, history; Italian and classical/oriental studies, language mediation (applied foreign languages, interpreting, translating), modern languages and cultures (glottology, linguistics, literature, philology, etc.),

• Sciences: agriculture, animal production & husbandry, biology, biotechnology, chemistry, environmental sciences, food industry & forestry, math, natural sciences, physics, statistics, etc.;

• Social studies: administration, business, communication, cooperation & development, defense & security, economics, law, physical education & sports, psychology, political science and international relations, social service & sociology, tourism;

• Technology: architecture & building engineering, design (industrial), engineering (civil, industrial, information), regional & environmental planning, urban planning

Qualification exam and certification

• Public school certificate qualification

• Vocational training run by private schools has a final exam run by a team composed of regional representatives

• Qualifications are different in each regional area

The Qualification System in the Region of Tuscany

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND• In 2001 the Department for Work (Ministero

del Lavoro) defined the procedure for the launch of a National Competence Certification System.

• In 2006/7 some of the Regions in Italy tested out the Citizen’s Training Booklet (Libretto Formativo del Cittadino) which acts as a register for competences acquired in formal and informal training programs.

LEGISLATION• The 174/2001 decree of the Department

for Work defined the procedure for the launch of a National Competence Certification System in vocational education to guarantee transparency in training programs and to allow the transfer between different education systems.

THE INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHTS• Certification of entrance credits: allows the learner to be

exempt from attending certain sections of the program.

• Competence Certificate or Competence Portfolio: contains the description of the completed training program. It is released at the end of the training program and also in the case of abandonment, to promote the transfer from scholastic programs (education) to training programs (vocational education) and vice versa.

• The Competence Recognition System takes place on the basis of the Collection of professional and training profiles declined for competences/skills and activities/actions . A final exam which will allow for validation is expected.

THE INDIVIDUAL’S RIGHTSThe objectives are:• to validate the experience acquired in informal contexts

in function with the acquisition of formal titles (qualification acquisition or reintegration of formal programs)

• to re-orient and re-motivate individuals • to promote professional mobility in companies • to improve the relationship between job offer and

demand • to create personalized insertion or outplacement

programs All described documents are edited

upon request of the person concerned.

STRUCTURE, ORGANIZATION AND FINANCING

• The function of the certification of competences acquired in informal contexts is performed by the Regions that autonomously regulate the activation procedures. Currently, Four Italian Regions have activated the competence recognition process.

• The expenses are usually charged to the Vocational Education system.

ACTORSThe entrance credit certification and the Competence Certification are

edited by training and development agencies.The Regions in Italy have various procedures for the recognition and the

validation of competences informally acquired and corresponding to skills described in the regional index. The Piedmont Region entrusted this procedure to the companies providing Vocational Education. The Region of Tuscany is elaborating a prototype that holds the Provinces responsible for the recognition and validation process and is articulated in multiple phases:

1. the reconstruction of competences, carried out by specialized workers

2. the validation, done by appropriate boards with experts from each sector, and

3. the final results which will then be identified with a certificate, given by the Province.

Following this procedure the individual shown to have all competences necessary can request to take an exam to obtain his/her professional title.

TOOLS• Curriculum

• Competence assessment

• Experience documentation (where possible)

The Region of Tuscany

• Accredits training organizations

• Created a Regional Skill assessment system

Qualifications in Construction• Tiler, floor and wall coverings, etc• Masonry• Reinforced concrete workers• Painter and stuccoer• Decorator• Excavation and material transportation• Complex construction projects• Programming and assembly of hydraulic systems• Construction site programming and coordinating• realization of technical drawings through the use of

computer and CAD programs• Electrician

Qualifications• Each professional title is based upon a number

of “ADA” Areas of Activity. • Each Area of activity is broken into various

skills and knowledge. • Once a person is in possession of all of the

skills and knowledge to complete a certain area of activity they can take an exam to recognize that ADA.

• Once they have completed all of the Areas of Activity they may take a qualification exam to obtain the professional title.

QualificationWithin the Mason figure there are 6 areas

of activity:– Masonry assistence for installations– Demolition of existing works– Surface paintings– Organization of the construction site and work

area– Preparation of mortar and concrete– Execution of masonry works and other

connected projects

The Mason • Producesvarious types of masonry and

other work-related and is able to choose and appropriatly use materials, tools/machinery/equipment needed for specific processing,

• Executes new structural, restoration and consolidation works

• Carries out with simple interventions, along with maintenance and carpentry

• Works in the installation of plumbing and electrical systems

• Works on construction sites on the basis of technical documentation, indications of other professional figures and purchasing.

Characterized by: versatility and expertise in the construction field

Qualifications

Within the Decorator figure there are 5 areas of activity:– Preparation of supports removing paintings

and stuccos – Preparation of the work place– Execution of tinting, painting, gilding and

lacquering works– Preparation of an estimate– Production of plastic decoration

Decorator

Performs works of painting, plastering and finishing (including gold) using various techniques andworking on different materials (plaster, wood, metal)

Executes minor works, restoring properties ornew buildings.

Works on implementation and enforcement elements of mural paintings as well as producing andapplying decorative solids.

Restores, historic and modern facades and using architectural profiles, moldings, cornices, facades, doors, and all other types of decoration and techniques used for fake stone, fake marble, fake wood and trompe l'oeil.

The construction schools qualification system

The Joint National Committee for Building Workers' Welfare Funds

(Cassa Edile)• The Joint National Committee for Buildings Workers'

Welfare Funds (Casse Edili) is a body founded by the building workers' trade unions and the federation of employers of construction industry.The function of guiding and coordinating building workers' welfare funds has been given to this Committee by the national trades unions.

• The Cassa Edile offers administrative type services including:– Providing security and assistance for workers– Manages provisions– Issues certifications

The Construction SchoolTraining and guidance services:

– Project design and training course management

– Guidance, training and work placement for youth needing to finish school

– Continuing education for workers– Higher technical education

The Joint Territorial Committee (CPT)

• Deals with consulting and support services on the topic of safety at the work place– Visits to constructions sites– Consulting for companies and workers– Training material and informational studies– Other services

Construction Schools’ systemSkill element- each skill is broken into two parts:

1. A description of the expected results

2. Mastery indicator with corresponding acceptability index

Along with the skill description, the training training course/path necessary to fulfill the requirements

to gain the skill is included.