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VET guidance in Italy
History
Reference : Report ISFOL 2012
Policies for guidance and orientation
During the last ten years, starting from the European Commission Communication on lifelong learning
(2001), and further with the two Resolutions of the council concerning life long orientation (2004 and
2008) considerable results were reached from the European Countries in the progress of policy for
orientation, in gradually reaching experiences which were transferable and also in the area of research
on these topics (CEDEFOP, 2011). The out bursting of the crisis , its overrunning beyond the first
anticipation, strengthened the rush to intervene in order to support the European working market ,in
parallel with the priority to restore the economy and stabilize the financial markets. In many countries
specific measures were adopted to improve the educational training systems, in order to ensure a more
efficient intersection between demand and offer of competences , to rise human capital of the
individuals, in a context where the flexibility needed for the working markets in constant rapid change is
accompanied by a network of security for the individuals that have to face frequent transitions,
uncertainty phases and that have to count on tools and services that are guidance suitable to support
them in the choices and opportunities.
The Europe 2020 Strategy (guideline 8) engages the European Countries to strengthen , for this purpose,
guidance services in the educational and training system and in the professional life, in cooperation with
the social partners and with the producing world1
.
For this purpose already in 2007 the member countries established a European network for the policies
concerning permanent guidance (European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network - ELGPN)2
. ELGPN carried
out a connecting job for guidance at a European level, based on four areas respectively meant to:
encourage the coordination and cooperation of the various subjects at a National, regional and local
level engaged in the guidance policies; strengthening the quality assurance of the guidance services;
facilitating the access of all citizens to the guidance services, fostering the acquisition of orientation
ability for lifelong .
In our country , the absence of a central area that is responsible for this subject or however coordination
, limited the effectiveness and efficiency of guidance policies, determining a frame work were the
episodic and fragmentation hindered the development of a mature system, in a phase were the
guidance offer grew significantly, thus increasing the number and typology of structures present in
several regional territories. Even as far as the present system for services towards jobs is concerned,
1
Report Isfol 2012 POLICIES AND TOOLS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPETENCES
2
The official website of ELGPN: <http://ktl.jyu.fi/ktl/elgpn> publishes periodically all the tasks of the European
network for the development of policies concerning permanent guidance. The designated member for Italy at
Work Package 1 of ELGPN, dedicated to Career Management Skills, that is to the group of work on the guidance
skills at work, is the Center Euroguidance Italy situated at ISFOL. The working group CMS carried out their activities
with remarkable success both during the planning phase that covers the period 2009-2010 and the period 2011-
2012. The output of the group on CMS were presented during the European Presidency of Cyprus which will
illustrate the main results of all the ELGPN network. Isfol report 2012

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guidance seems always more and more as a function/service without which this system would not be
capable of pursuing its own main objectives, that is to foster occupation and employability. In the
employment centers and employment agencies many guidance type services are offered, from
,welcoming to supplying information about the job market, to counseling, to the proposal of
traineeships and guidance, up to other important guidance activities , such as courses/guidance labs to
choose from, labs on techniques to actively search for a job, balance of competences, seeing to insertion
and job re-insertion (like tutoring, periodical interview ex D.Lgs. n. 297/02, integration activity for
disabled person or with social problems), company stages. The scenario obtained seems to be very rich
in activities that include even experimental projects, but it is fragmented and is not always sufficiently
known by the potential users. The urgent need to articulate a widespread service, structured and more
efficient is exacerbated from the emergency of the crisis that imposes to strengthen valorization policies
of the human capital and to make the active policies more efficient.
On the basis of these considerations, the IX Commission for education, work , innovation and research
of the Autonomous Regions and Provinces, has recently started a path with the aim of identifying the
government priorities for guidance and the working lines for the coming years. In the light of the
legislative and planning reference frame work for the subject of guidance (of the Regions and
autonomous Provinces of the labor chains, vocational training and education at the moment, even in
relation to the regional experiences, the recent community initiatives, to those regarding MIUR and
Ministry of labor,)some priority intervention areas have been identified to be added to the government
Regions agenda and to other local and national institutions. The purpose is to promote the integration
of guidance policies and foster a coordinated group of actions that know how to effectively support
people in the vocational and professional choices with particular attention to people that are in
disadvantaged conditions and with guidance needs lifelong. From here the idea of a co-participated
governance with the territories in order to identify and describe the regional policies implemented for the
guidance development and to promote synergistic actions for technical assistance, supporting the
training of operators, promoting the quality of the research and development system.
ABSTRACT from Paola Paolinelli
GUIDANCE
Institutional and regulatory framework.
In 2005, the Marche Region decided to merge all matters related to education and employment policies
into a single service – the Education, Vocational Training and Labor Policies Unit (IFL) – with
(Vocational) Guidance positioned across these three areas.
Numerous service operations are included in these various fields of activity such as, among others:
Education - organization of the school network and the provision of training within the region, study
rights and obligations, university student loans, education and training rights and obligations as well as
adult education;
Vocational Training - the development of guidelines for the use of FSE resources, accreditation of
facilities and skills certification for vocational training operators, vocational training addressed to young
persons and adults, responding also to individual applications (via catalogues and information points)
and the use of training vouchers; Employment - supporting entrepreneurs, internships and scholarships,
honor loans, employment services and the regional 'Employment and Labor Market Observatory.
In this context, the regional Guidance sector (which includes EURES) is in charge of measures for the
system’s development and innovation in vocational guidance through the provision of information,

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training (seminars, work-groups, coordination of research) and technical support regarding operations in
the three areas (Documentation Centre, technical seminars for operators and decision makers). A
common factor in these activities is the link with local networks as well as with those at national and
European level, such as Euroguidance Italy (of which the regional vocational guidance sector has been a
part since its inception) and EURES.
To highlight the value given to vocational guidance in the regional employment services, in 2005,
through a special regional law (LR 2 / 2005), Marche’s employment centers were given the name
"Employment, Vocational Guidance and Training Ceners” – known with the acronym CIOF in Italian. One
element which distinguishes Marche (from other Italian regions) is the role assigned to employment
centres as the main terminals of labour market policies. In line with this approach, they are not limited
to intermediation between supply and demand for labour, but also offer information and counselling
about work, tutoring aimed at employment also for disadvantaged groups (such as ex-prisoners,
migrants and women). The Marche CIOF aims to provide information and career counselling to young
people in compulsory education as well as to students from high schools and universities.
Before long, cooperation with other local operators (schools, universities, municipalities, training
agencies, social services) became the predominant modus operandi.
For these reasons, the employment sector, through the SPI, is where one currently finds a consistently
high level of skills and standards of service among vocational guidance staff, together with a proven
networking culture.
In short, guidance in this sector has achieved a higher level of maturity than in other structures (schools,
universities, FPs (Vocational training facilities), where working on projects is still prevalent.
At provincial government level, the situation is not uniform from an organizational point of view;
education is often a separate service, while Vocational Training and Employment policies are usually
merged. Currently only the province of Pesaro-Urbino has established a "Vocational Guidance Office”
with technical networking among the systems operating on its territory. Each province has established
its own CIOF (13 throughout the region) and its own decentralized offices (22), and proceeded to the
implementation of services following different organizational models.
Among the main innovations in the new POR (2007-2013) for the Marche are that:
- guidance activities planned for the different sectors are indicated specifically (not just implicitly,
under the heading "educational activities" as in the past)
- development and introduction of IFL reform systems, for improving integration and
employability, are expressed with the wording "focusing on guidance"
- "system operations aimed at the establishment of a regional model of lifelong guidance” have
been defined
- Among the actions for system qualification can be found "reference standards for guidance and
counsellors’ responsibilities, etc."
- There will be "participation in partnerships aimed at developing innovation related to policies
for lifelong guidance”.

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Legal framework/Legislation
• in 2005, through a special regional law (LR 2 / 2005), Marche’s employment centres were given
the name "Employment, Vocational Guidance and Training Centres” – known with the acronym
CIOF
• Agreement between the Government, the Regions and local authorities on the establishment of
the national lifelong guidance . Repertoire acts n. 152/CU of December 20, 2012 :
1. Note no. 29/0006436/L of 13 December 2012 in which the Ministry of Labour and
Social Affairs has transmitted the proposed agreement between the government,
the regions and local authorities on the establishment of the national lifelong
guidance, together with the concert by the Ministry of Education, Universities and
research, December 14, 2012, was circulated to the regions and local authorities;
Agreements between the Government and the Regions and Local Authorities, as
follows:
2. Agreement, pursuant to Article 9, paragraph 2, letter. c) of Legislative Decree 28
August 1997. 281.
3. Legislative Decree 19 December 2002, n. 297 "Provisions amending and corrective
legislative decree of 21 April 2000, n. 181 laying down provisions to facilitate the
matching of demand and supply of labor, in compliance with article 45, paragraph
1, letter a) ";
4. Legislative Decree 10 September 2003, n. 276 "Implementation of proxies in respect
of employment and the labor market, including the Law of 14 February 2003, no. 30
" and subsequent amendments;
5. Legislative Decree 14 January 2008, n. 21 on "Guidelines for the definition of career
guidance to higher education and advanced training in art, music and dance, the link
between schools,
universities and institutions of higher education in art, music and dance, as well
as the enhancement of the quality of the academic performance of students for
admission to graduate degree programs planned access referred to in Article 1
of the Law of 2 August 1999 n. 264, to accordance with art. 2, paragraph 1,
letters a9, b) and c) of the Law of 11 January 2007, n. 1 " ;
8. Legislative Decree 14 January 2008, n. 22 entitled "Definition of orientation courses aimed at
professionals and work, in accordance with art. 2, paragraph 1, of the Law of 11 January 2007, n.
1 " ;
9. - it is necessary to promote and strengthen a culture and a common language among the
counselors in relation to the provisions of the Law of 28 June 2012, n. 92 and in particular to the
provisions of Article 4, paragraph 55, letter c) in lifelong learning;……be strengthened, promoted

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and shared levels of governance orientation within and between systems of education,
university, training and employment;
Activities
The National working group on lifelong guidance - organizes periodic meetings with the social
partners in order to ensure information and participation of women .
The Working Group has the following functions:
development of Guidelines and general proposals for the identification of
minimum standards of guidance services,
definition of monitoring tools relating to 'implementation of the policies and
actions of orientation,
The Working Group ensures coordination between the various national levels and the
connection with the European networks deputies orientation and, in particular, with the
European Lifelong Guidance Policy Network (ELGPN);
By 30 June 2013, the Working Group is responsible for the orientation process:
• a draft national guidelines orientation
• a proposal for the identification of minimum standards of services and skills of
the operators, also with reference to the functions and guidance currently in
place in different local contexts and systems of Education, Training and Labour.
The Regional working group for the Marche Region – Tavolo Orientamento Regionale - T. OR.RE has
been established in 2012 in order to address the issues related to the development of a guidance
system with a regional lifelong guidance strategy. The T.OR.RE regional guidance committee has the
objective of developing and promoting Lifelong Guidance Policies and ensuring qualitative guidance
services for all organizations and institutions which provide career guidance. The following
institutions/organizations are part of the Committee: the regions, the 4 provincial administrations,
the 4 universities, schools and youth information desks, thus providing an evidence of a local
guidance network and meet periodically to improve the guidance methods regarding active job-
seeking techniques and to transfer common practices to all actors/counselors operating at regional
level.
Providers of Career guidance
• Primary schools, secondary schools, high schools all have guidance counsellors. The accessibility
of guidance in schools is quite lower than one would expect.
• University students still have some problems with access to guidance counselling. The most used
approaches are career fairs, only few universities enable their students to use guidance

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counselling services through career centres. But even here we have to keep in mind that there is
lack of guidance counsellors in comparison to big number of students.
• Employment service in Italy – named CIOF
• Trade Unions, Umbrella organizations and Human Resource Management private providers and
employment agencies offer guidance counselling to adults and youth.
Examples of good practices
• Regione Marche takes part of Euroguidance Italy;
• GIRC Leonardo project – technical guidance liaison device is a contribution from a technical and
methodological point of view and a point of reference for the development of specific actions
addressed to a plurality of guidance practitioners and stakeholders. GIRC ended in 2007
• GIANT Leonardo project – based on GIRC, confirmed its potential in terms of adjustment of the
model to the local needs, proving to be able to provide a significant contribution to the
improvement of the existing situation. Giant ended in 2009.
• SORPRENDO career guidance software, has been mapped and adapted to national context ,
together with GIANT project. The software performance is similar to KAM IN KAKO in Slovenia.
Since 2010 Marche Region has adopted SORPRENDO In all CIOF centres.
• Career Guidelines Leonardo project - Information and Guidance on new careers and training
pathways. The project Career Guidelines aims at improving the quality of vocational and
educational guidance services through the transfer of an English model of career guidance,
created by CASCAiD Ltd and already diffused at international level. The model, based on the use
of a career profile database, allows the young customers of the employment and guidance
services to define their interests and aims on career opportunities better and helps them to
build their career plan. Ended 2011. Web Site : http://career.guidelines.it