The seminar began with the data on 2022 collected and analysed by the Observatory, a platform created by CNOS-FAP and PTSCLAS (available on the websites www.cnos-fap.it and www.osservatoriodigitale.ptsclasplatform.it), which showed how last year there was a slight increase in spending commitments in Italy for Vocational Training and an even higher increase in funding dedicated to Active Labour Policies.
"We are very satisfied that the technical-professional chain has reached a good level and that the trend of European and national policies is to implement investments in these areas, which are now considered decisive for the development of employment" said the new Director General of CNOS-FAP, Fr Giuliano Giacomazzi, during the event to present the results of the Digital Observatory. "Now, however, we are facing a new challenge with the reform of the Minister of Education and Merit" the Salesian said. "We hope that this can contribute to the full recognition of Vocational Education and Training (VET), its speciality and identity, as well as school paths."
The scientific interventions of Sara Frontini and Mattia Dolci of PTSCLAS then focused on the analysis of warnings, taking into account the complex post-pandemic scenario, on the analysis of some specific appropriations and programmes, as well as on the Regional Implementation Plans of the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRR) that enabled the activation of multiple Qualification and Retraining Pathways in Active Labour Policies and the strengthening of the Dual System in Vocational Training.
The Digital Observatory also highlighted how the different levels of regional integration have been reconfirmed in the field of training, with a more mature general IeFP system, although there are also profound differences at the regional level regarding Higher Technical Education and Training (IFTS) rooted in the territory in some regions of the north-central region.
After a careful analysis of the European Structural Funds, their use in general terms and their use also for the flattening of social inequalities – with programmes such as "Youth, Women and Work", which obtained the largest share of funding – the debate has shifted to the future, with the presentation and study of reforms and resources that can serve to design a new development of the country based on skills.
Several institutional representatives (Ministerial and Regional Directors, Councillors of Piedmont, Tuscany, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche and Calabria) and representatives of the world of Vocational Training and Labour made significant contributions to the debate, each on the basis of their competence.
Finally, Paola Vacchina, President of "FORMA", the association of National Bodies engaged in Vocational Training, highly appreciated the presentation of the data processed through the Digital Observatory, and if on the one hand she hailed as "good news" the development of vocational training and active labour policies in Italy, "also supported by European funds and which improves its labour inclusion services", on the other hand she warned of the risk that these processes are frustrated by the scarcity of public resources; and for this reason she invited the Government and Parliament to provide. "Young Italians, especially those from the centre-south, have the right to a widespread and wide range of IeFP", she concluded.
At the end of the event held at Palazzo Giustiniani, it can be said that the reasoned analysis of the Digital Observatory has highlighted the trend towards a more solid and synergistic system of Training and Active Labour Policies, albeit in a country that moves at different speeds and fragmented by very different regional legislation. It will be important to evaluate the impacts that these policies will have in the near future on the entire professional supply chain also in the light of the Reforms and Experimentation.
