The education system includes the following at present:# Scuola dell'infanzia (non-compulsory) for children between 3 and 6 years <strong>of</strong> age.# First cycle <strong>of</strong> education (length: 8 years), organised in Primary Education for children between 6 and11 years <strong>of</strong> age, which lasts 5 years, and Lower Secondary School for children between 11 and 14 years<strong>of</strong> age, lasting 3 years.# Second cycle <strong>of</strong> education consisting <strong>of</strong> two different pathways: the first is Upper Secondary School,which falls under the responsibility <strong>of</strong> the State, lasts 5 years and is addressed to students from 15 to 19years <strong>of</strong> age. This level <strong>of</strong> education is provided by Licei, Technical Institutes, Art Institutes andVocational Institutes. Vocational and Art Institutes also <strong>of</strong>fer three-year courses. The second pathway isInitial Vocational Training (three-year courses) for students who have completed the first cycle <strong>of</strong>education and is organised by the Regions.# Post-secondary non-tertiary education, within the higher technical education and training system(Istruzione e Formazione Tecnica Superiore – IFTS), <strong>of</strong>fers higher technical education and trainingpathways and courses provided by Higher Technical Institutes (Istituti Tecnici Superiori – ITS).# Higher education sector consisting <strong>of</strong> University and non-University Higher Education. The highereducation system is divided into State and non-State establishments.3 Referencing the EQF__ Which tools are used to create an interface to EQF?In order to set up the EQF, the national authorities <strong>of</strong> each country have been requested to establish linksbetween their own systems <strong>of</strong> qualifications and the Single Framework itself.school for apprentices [“Berufsschule”]. Thus, apprenticeship training is also referred to as “dual vocationaltraining system” or as “dual system”.Page 2/2
Italy’s response to the request from Europe became concrete in 2007, when a committee for theconstruction <strong>of</strong> a national system <strong>of</strong> minimum pr<strong>of</strong>essional, certification and training standards,promoted by the Minister <strong>of</strong> Labour, started work. The committee has the objective <strong>of</strong> defining anational standards system coherent with the setting up <strong>of</strong> the EQF. The committee members are theMinistry <strong>of</strong> Education, the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Universities and Research, the Regional Councils, theIndependent Provincial Councils and social partners.Italy started preparing a common methodology, including a national learning outcomes approach,providing the basis for closer integration <strong>of</strong> the different parts <strong>of</strong> the qualification system. An inventory<strong>of</strong> regional standards <strong>of</strong> competences was prepared and methodology successfully tested in tourism andmechanical sector. Other sectors (e.g. chemical, food and agriculture) are about to be mapped with thesame methodology. Some Regions adopted regional standards using the same methodology.Furthermore, currently the ISFOL is supporting the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Labour in creating a national database <strong>of</strong>job descriptions and standards (occupational and training standards) developed in Italy in recent years,which are clustered in 24 economic and pr<strong>of</strong>essional areas.__ How are interfaces between the NQF and the EQF defined? How is it managed? How are learningoutcomes from EQF accredited in the NQF? How are qualifications from an education abroadgenerally accredited? Who is responsible for those definitions and accreditation?The development <strong>of</strong> the NQF in Italy is running a new evolution phase due to:- the progress <strong>of</strong> the national reforms in the field <strong>of</strong> education, VET system and the labour market;- a stronger dialogue among institutions and competent bodies on the implementation <strong>of</strong> the System(coherent with the EQF);- the EQF Recommendation commitments;- a concrete impulse in the activities <strong>of</strong> the “<strong>National</strong> Table/Committee”, launched in 2006 by theMinistry <strong>of</strong> Labour for the definition <strong>of</strong> the Italian NQS.In this new phase criteria and priorities settled are:- to preserve specific characteristics <strong>of</strong> sub-systems and regional <strong>frameworks</strong>;- to overcome diversities and develop a common and shared language (focused on learning outcomes);- to guarantee transparency, legibility and quality procedures;- to take into consideration European issues and deadlines;- to develop cooperation with other national agencies in EU involved in the definition <strong>of</strong> their NQFs.The “<strong>National</strong> Table/Committee” started to work on NFQ and it is still working on it. The “<strong>National</strong>Table/Committee” is promoted by the Italian Ministry <strong>of</strong> Labour and is composed by: Ministry <strong>of</strong>Labour, Ministry <strong>of</strong> Education, Employers Representatives, Trade Unions and Local Authorities(Regions, Autonomous Provinces). ISFOL at national level and Tecnostruttura at regional level, are thescientific and methodological bodies that support the Italian policy in this field.The Ministry <strong>of</strong> Education, University and Research and Ministry <strong>of</strong> Labour and Social Policies areleading the NQF development and implementation process in agreement with the Regions andAutonomous Provinces and the social partners. At the technical level, ISFOL (the national institute fordevelopment <strong>of</strong> vocational training) is involved in implementing the national methodologies andcoordinates sectoral and pr<strong>of</strong>essional expert groups involving social partners. The monitoring <strong>of</strong> theimplementation <strong>of</strong> the NQF to prepare the referencing process to the EQF will be operated by theMinistry <strong>of</strong> Labour and the Ministry <strong>of</strong> Education, with the support <strong>of</strong> the NCP appointed at ISFOL.The concept <strong>of</strong> “qualification” has several meanings and different uses in Italy:- it is the formal output <strong>of</strong> a learning and/or certification/validation process (titoli e qualifiche) such as:attestato di qualifica, diploma, laurea, etc…, delivered by a authorized institutions;- qualifica has always been used in the VET system, and its use in ED and HE needs an effort <strong>of</strong>adaptation;- it defines pr<strong>of</strong>essions and levels (qualifica) in the national collective agreements;Page 3/3
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