Abstract

This paper compares tertiary education in Italy with international experience. Three main critical aspects of the Italian system are highlighted. First of all, there are fewer public and private resources to support Italian tertiary education, compared to the vast majority of OECD countries. Secondly, professional tertiary education is almost completely lacking, both as short-term study programmes and as professional three-year degree programmes. Finally, guidance services that help young people to choose training opportunities in line with their attitudes and with emerging needs in the economy, and that accompany them in the transition between school and work, are almost entirely lacking. Helping young people to choose their training in an informed way could also enhance new and relevant training opportunities that have been created recently, but which show a good potential in terms of employability - i.e., Higher Technical Institutes.