German-Italian VET cooperation: Exploring the dual system

What began as bilateral dialogue in 2012 is now a lively partnership with specific impacts on both sides of the Alps. Together with the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM) and the Ministry of Labour and Social Policies (MLPS), Germany is actively shaping the future of vocational education and training in Italy. GOVET, on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Education, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth (BMBFSFJ), is responsible for the technical planning, advice and coordination of all cooperation activities.

Bridge between two countries: The study visit in December

One highlight of the year was a five-day study visit by a twelve-person delegation in Cologne and Bonn in December 2025. The delegation consisted of representatives from the Italian partner ministries MIM and MLPS, the research institute INAPP (Istituto nazionale per l’analisi delle politiche pubbliche), and a representative from the Tuscany region, which took place as part of the State-Regions Conference. The programme, organised by GOVET, brought the delegation to key stakeholders from dual initial and continuing vocational education and training. The Italian partners were particularly impressed by companies’ strong and institutionalised commitment to training. That craft trade companies, for example, form guilds to represent their interests and to take on joint tasks, such as in the area of vocational education and training, is something that to date has not existed in Italy. In terms of content, the highlight was an academic expert exchange at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training (BIBB) on current developments in VET. This structured dialogue began in Rome in June at the BIBB partner institute, the National Institute for the Analysis of Public Policies (INAPP), and is set to continue.

Companies as ambassadors for dual training

In 2025, a new format emphasised the power of practice: Under the umbrella of the well-established company award “Premio di Eccellenza Duale”, GOVET and the AHK Italy launched a community of excellence involving dual training companies in Italy: the “Community eccellenze duali”. In six moderated online workshops, the finalists discussed their experiences and challenges, and jointly developed approaches to improve the quality of training and company involvement in VET. The companies thus become promoters and disseminators of dual training models in their country.

The intensive jury work for the award itself continued again in 2025. In various selection rounds, a jury comprising representatives from Italian social partners, ministries, and subordinate authorities identified exemplary dual training models. The award ceremony at the residence of the German ambassador in Rome at the end of December was a worthy conclusion. This year, the award in the category of training provider went to the sustainable construction and construction consulting company Soseteg.

ConnActions: Networks with growing impact

The network initiative “ConnActions” also gained further momentum in 2025. GOVET supported and advised the initiative throughout. The German-Italian advisory committee met several times in 2025, and there were also meeting and study trips involving the six networks as well as meetings as part of the project monitoring of the Italian research partner INAPP. The exchange led to action: For example, the network “Digitalisation in Artisan Craftwork” developed numerous digital and analogue products with assistance from various AI tools and is now preparing their implementation – an impressive example of how networking produces innovation.

In 2025, in cooperation with the BMBFSFJ, GOVET was again part of the annual jury that selects exemplary projects from school pupils for the “Unternehmen Deutsch” award, which is backed by the Goethe Institute. In addition, conversations were held with the Goethe Institute Rome on creating synergies in the work with the Italian partners.