Work experience schemes for school students have been introduced in the Italian school system, as provided for by the article 33 of law No. 107, of 13 July 2015. In order to help students understand the educational and formative value of work, IUL created some learning environments for work experience schemes for students.

The Italian law provides for compulsory work experience schemes for students attending the last three years of upper secondary education. In light of this regulation, IUL – Italian University Line, designed courses and educational and training packages containing video-lessons and support/study material created for young people between 16 and 20 years of age, attending “licei” and Institutes of technical and vocational education and training, with the aim to bring students closer to the labour market through flexible, intuitive and engaging learning tools.

With regard to point 2) of the explanatory guidance on work experience schemes for students, released by MIUR’s IV office in March 2017, schools can purchase educational packages from training institutions using the funds allocated by law No. 107/2015. Fully in line with the present regulation, schools can purchase IUL’s various packages choosing between the 5 themes proposed which can be assembled according to the needs.

The work experience programme is not just a practical activity integrating the traditional school curricula but a real adjustment to the new context and the competencies required for students to succeed in the transition from school to work.

In the last century, both school and work underwent deep changes due to the advancement of technological innovation, influencing work and private life.

Present and future society requires flexibility of roles and skills, permeability of knowledge, and transferable competencies. Therefore, it is crucial to fully understand and harness change.

This new context doesn’t have geographical, cultural or sectorial boundaries. Since many years, the labour market has been riding the wave of change in the organisation and distribution of tasks and competencies. The training world which is inevitably linked to the professional one, couldn’t remain unaffected.

The introduction of work schemes in the school curricula serves the purpose of connecting schools and companies in order to provide students with marketable skills, and helps them in their future career choices.

The work experience programme for schools aims at reaching these goals by creating a profitable synergy of different environments, knowledge and timeframes, to favour learning which is inevitably, nowadays, a lifelong experience.

This new relationship between school and work can result in advantages and opportunities. Students can find in the work experience programme concreate opportunities for personal and professional orientation through the acquisition of practical knowledge and skills. They can also benefit from experiencing contexts which are different from the school class, in terms of responsibilities and expectations, while at the same time acquiring the necessary school credits to obtain their secondary school diploma.