Not a degree, more than a degree?

An alternative to graduation. Perhaps, more effectively than the degree itself, at the level of job placement. Since 2010, Italy activated the ITS-Higher Technical Institutes system: high-tech schools, with paths co-designed with educational institutions and organizations in the field, with two- or three-year durations. An alternative to be undertaken downstream of the diploma, which in recent years is gaining an exceptional approval rating, both from the users (students), and on the organizations side. Today, the number of members in Italy reaches 10.000, a still modest data especially if compared to the 750.000 of Germany. Yet, 12 months after graduation, employment rates are better than those guaranteed by the most canonical degree.

This is the first Italian experience of a training offer that is post-secondary, as said non-academic, yet highly professionalizing. Our answer to the more established Fachschulen (German high-education schools), or the French Brevet de Technicien Supérieur. Different branches (104 institutes, for 450 courses), as many as there are specializations that can be achieved, of course, for a common goal. To train highly skilled profiles in innovative, highly specialized, strategic paths, for this reason the more attractive to the world of work. Some examples: energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, new life technologies, innovative technologies for culture and tourism, information and communication technologies, new technologies for Made in Italy (mechanics, fashion, services, food, housing).

In 2014-2015, in addition to the already mentioned German high figures, 500.000 French students had taken this path. Behind, Spain and the United Kingdom with, respectively, 400.000 and 250.000 subscribers. Our Country is clearly behind in OECD ratings, with just 8.000 students compared to the 1.6million cubapped by universities. Big mess, for a professional alternative that, in practice, generates titles often equivalent to the top-level degrees. Big mess, again, because these courses offer training-on-the-job experiences (mandatory internship for 30% of total hours, possibility to carry out internships abroad, 50% of teachers taken from the labour market), faster, more flexible, as companies (and the market fluctuations that shape them (tend to require. Finally, according to the MIUR-Indire 2018 monitoring, ITS also manages to place 80% of its graduates (Almalaurea does not reach more than 70% of graduates), with 90% that, not enough, ends up in jobs consistent with their training path.

In a training and professional landscape, the Italian one, which tends dangerously to stasis, on the one hand it is to turn a well-founded attention to this kind of high potential start-up method; on the other hand, there is a clear invitation to take its cue, especially in terms of the proximity actually developed with respect to the labour market, with the aim of creating the actual conditions to exploit the full potential of our talents, for the benefit of the System Country.