Italy: employers’ bodies mobilize to make dual-working a success

In order to tackle unemployment and better match jobs supply and demand conditions, the ambitious 2015 education reform imposed mandatory dual-working (in-company practical work) experience for senior secondary school students comprising a minimum of 400 hours for students in technical and vocational learning streams and 200 hours for those in general learning streams (c.f. article No. 9231). The program struggle to take off and so both the employers’ bodies and the chambers of commerce are in the process of launching initiatives to help companies rise to the challenge.
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In July 2015 when the dual education-work initiative (alternanza scuola lavoro – ASL) was introduced 900,000 students were involved during the 2016-2017 academic year and this number is set to rise to 1.5 million for 2017-2018. The system is still feeling its way and the work placements being proposed are not always good quality. Businesses are categorically not required to include senior secondary education student initiatives and receive no public funds to this effect. Many companies includin

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