Business · Companies · 9 hrs ago
Confindustria proposes funding and school guidance plans for young people
Confindustria has proposed two plans to improve education and career guidance for young people in Italy.
One would provide new annual funding for technical and vocational courses, including ITS Academy programmes, from 2027, when current European Union recovery funds are due to run out.
The plan also calls for 2,000 business experts to teach in technical and vocational classes, alongside apprenticeships and industrial doctorates.
The second plan would have companies help guide middle-school pupils aged 11 to 14 as they choose which high school to attend.
Companies could receive extra points in public tenders for taking part, while the guidance would use existing school hours.
Confindustria says the proposals could help address a skills mismatch affecting many job hires and reduce students’ regret about their study choices.
It wants the measures included in Italy’s next budget law, but the proposals have not yet been approved.
Confindustria presented two proposals to support young people’s education and career choices at a forum in Taormina.
It wants a structural fund for Its Academy and other training programmes to maintain support from 2027, when funding from the Pnrr is due to run out.
The proposals also include bringing 2,000 business experts into classrooms and having companies guide middle-school pupils as they consider upper-secondary schools.
Confindustria is asking for the proposals to be turned into law in the next budget law.
The plans aim to reduce the mismatch between skills sought by employers and those available.
- Who
- Confindustria, the association representing Italian industry.
- What
- It proposed funding for training programmes and measures to help pupils make education and career choices.
- When
- The proposals were presented on 22 October 2026. Confindustria wants them included in the next budget law, with funding continuity from 2027.
- Where
- At the Education & Open Innovation Forum 2026 in Taormina, Italy.
- Why
- To maintain training programmes after Pnrr funding ends and address the mismatch between employers’ skills needs and available skills.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The number of students enrolled in Its programmes began a period in which it would grow fivefold, according to the article.
Confindustria presented its proposals in Taormina at the opening of the Education & Open Innovation Forum.
Confindustria proposes that new funding ensure continuity for programmes previously funded by the Pnrr.
- New annual national funding
- €208 million
- Proposed annual public-budget total, including existing funds
- €290 million
- National structural fund for Its Academy
- €260 million a year
- Business experts for classrooms
- 2,000
- Middle-school pupils covered by company guidance
- Ages 11 to 14
- Employers’ skills mismatch
- 48% of recruitments, according to Unioncamere
What people are saying
The watchword is “soon” — in two senses: act quickly, because the Pnrr must have continuity and we need to decide now how to set up what comes after, starting with a definition of roles and measurable results over the medium to long term.