Vocational Education and Training cooperation with Italy
There are many aspects to the bilateral cooperation with Italy. In 2024, specific priorities were the green transformation, quality assurance in dual training and strengthening vocational networks.
Germany and Italy extended their successful cooperation right at the start of the year. In a joint declaration of intent, both countries agreed to continue the bilateral cooperation for a further four years in the areas of vocational education and training and labour market policy.
Driving forward the green transformation with vocational education and training.
In May 2024, together with the German Embassy in Rome and with the active involvement of Ambassador Dr. Hans-Dieter Lucas, GOVET addressed the issue of how green transformation is impacting on training systems.
As part of the “climate talks”, GOVET prepared an events programme which brought together German and Italian stakeholders from business, social partnerships and the Italian partner ministries responsible for education and labour. Key topics were identified and addressed in intensive preliminary discussions.
Highlights were a Round Table with key stakeholders at the German Embassy and a panel discussion involving high-ranking individuals in the Ambassador’s residence. Both events were very well received and made an important contribution to the discussion regarding sustainable vocational education and training.
The green transformation is posing new challenges for us; challenges which must also be considered in vocational education and training.
At the ‘climate talks’ we were able to engage in a constructive exchange together with our Italian partners and with other stakeholders from business and social partnerships regarding how we can manage these changes together.
The events were very well received and this shows the importance of dialogue and cooperation in this area."
Sara-Julia Zakhia, GOVET project manager in the bilateral cooperation with Italy
Strengthening quality in Dual Training
GOVET worked closely with the Italian partner ministries responsible for education and labour to organise a seminar on quality in dual training. The event took place in the research institute of the Italian Ministry of Labour (Istituto nazionale per l’analisi delle politiche pubbliche, INAPP) and was also streamed live in order to reach a broad specialist audience.
A lecture delivered by GOVET provided ideas for the development of the Italian vocational education and training system. The ideas were taken up with great interest by participants and explored more thoroughly in in-depth discussions.
Making excellence in VET visible
The “Premio di Eccellenza Duale” vocational education and training award, sponsored by GOVET through the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), was also awarded in 2024. GOVET worked with the German-Italian Chamber of Industry and Commerce to develop a new concept to support the work of the jury. The aim was to intensify the exchange between members of the jury and companies applying for the prize. This enabled valuable insights to be gained into the training work carried out by the companies. Professional exchange between jury members was also enhanced and the quality of selections made further increased.
The formal award ceremony took place in November at the German Ambassador’s residence and with the involvement of the Ambassador. In November 2024, as in previous years, the prize was awarded to successful dual training courses, company-based placements for schools and for the involvement of small and micro businesses in the dual system of vocational education and training. Special prizes were also awarded. High-ranking representatives from Italian business associations, unions, the labour and education ministry and the BMBF attended the event and confirmed their commitment to vocational education and training in Italy.
Networking to grow together
In 2024, GOVET also supported the bilateral network project “ConnActions” which is coordinated by the German-Italian Chamber of Industry and Commerce and funded by the BMBF. Six Italian-German networks from training institutions, business and social partners, professional associations and municipalities work in each case on a common thematic focus within vocational education and training and regularly exchange results and experiences between networks.
A body which meets on a regular basis provides professional assistance to the networks, helps with any challenges they face and also transfers valuable findings from vocational education and training practice into their own separate organisations. The body consists of stakeholders with a coordination role from the bilateral cooperation such as ministries, regional governments and representatives of national business and social partners.
Together with the BMBF, GOVET again selected outstanding students projects for the “Unternehmen Deutsch” [Enterprising German] prize awarded by the Goethe-Institut. The work of the jury provided fascinating insights into innovative approaches to education and training and underlined the relevance of language and business competency for the young people’s future careers.
The BMBF has been working with the Ministry of Education and Merit (Ministero dell’Istruzione e del Merito, MIM) in the area of vocational education and training since 2012 and, since 2017, also with stakeholders from the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies (Ministero del Lavoro e delle Politiche Sociali, MLPS). Both ministries work in the area of vocational education and training in Italy with different priorities. GOVET is responsible, on behalf of the BMBF, for the technical planning, advice and coordination of cooperation activities with Italy.
In 2024, a total of three meetings took place with the bilateral joint working group which GOVET prepared together with DLR Projektträger, the project administration agency. New additions to the varied cooperation topics are current challenges such as the green transformation.