2022

The reform of the Higher technical institutes (ITS)

Publication of the law

The ITS reform law has been published in the Official Journal on 26 July 2022 as law no. 99 'Establishment of the higher technological tertiary education system' (Istituzione del Sistema terziario di istruzione tecnologica superiore).

Approval of the draft law

On 12 July 2022 the Chamber of Deputies the draft law drawn up by the Government on the reform of the Higher technical institutes (Istituti tecnici superiori – ITS), was finally approved. ITS are high-level institutions that offer courses at tertiary level in specific sectors with the involvement of universities, enterprises, and the labour world.

The main changes of the reform are:

• ITSs will change their name from Higher technical institutes to Higher technological institutes or ITS Academies
• The training offer will be increased, with a stronger integration with university courses and a stronger involvement of enterprises 
• Each ITS Academy will refer to a specific technological area among those defined by the Minister of education in a specific Decree to be issued within 90 days from the entry into force of the law
• Programmes will be organised in two levels: 

          - courses corresponding to level 5 of the EQF, organised in four semesters (1.800 hours) 

          - courses corresponding to level 6 of the EQF, organised in six semesters (3.000 hours) 

• At least 35% of the timetable will be spent in traineeships
• At least 60% of the teaching staff will belong to the labour world
• A specific fund at the Ministry of education will provide stable resources to ITS. 

The aim of ITSs remains unchanged: the training of higher technicians with high-level technological and technical competences that are highly requested in the labour world. The aim is also to double the number of enrolments also through guidance initiatives that will start from the lower secondary level of education.

After its final approval, the ITS reform law will come into effect after its publication in the Official Gazette. The Ministry of Education will issue specific decrees to regulate the implementation of individual aspects of the reform.

Source: Ministry of education 

2021

Measures to start school activities for the school and academic year 2021/2022

On 6 August 2021, the Government has approved the Law-Decree no. 111, which contains the urgent measures to be taken to contrast the Covid-19 pandemic for the school and academic year 2021/2022.

The Decree will be discussed in Parliament and must be approved by 9 October, otherwise its effects, already in force since 7 August, will cease. In case of approval by law, the measures will apply until the end of the Covid- 19 emergency, set at 31 December 2021.

On 10 September the Government has approved the Law-Decree no. 122 that widens the measures of the previous decree.

The measures apply to all institutions of the State and Regional education and training systems.

As for tertiary education the Decrees establish that:

• the didactic activities will be carried out primarily in the presence;
• staff and students must wear a mask;
• all must be at least 1 meter away and access to those with a body temperature above 37.5 ° C is not allowed;
• students as well as teaching and non-teaching staff must have and show the green certification known as 'Green pass', that is the document that certifies either the vaccination against SARS-CoV-2, or the recovery from the infection or the negative response to a swab test;
• the dispositions on the green pass apply to all people who access premises as external visitors.

The Green pass is not mandatory for those who are exempted from the vaccination campaign for certified reasons.

2020

Two new Ministries replace the Ministry of education, university and research

On 9 January 2020, the Government has issued the Decree n. 1 establishing that the Ministry of education and the Ministry of University and Research will replace the former Ministry of education, university and research (Ministero dell’istruzione, dell’università e della ricerca – MIUR).

The Decree is provisionally in force since the 10th of January; however, the Parliament has to approve the text within 60 days in order to make it permanent and transform it into a State law. The final approval of the text is expected by mid-March.
The Decree details the functions of the two ministries: the Ministry of education has competences for the ECEC and school/vocational sectors, as well as for the higher technical education. The Ministry of university and research has competences for the higher education area and coordinates the research sector.

The organisation of the new ministries will be detailed in specific regulations. Up to then, the previous departments and offices will remain active.