Questa è una versione PDF del contenuto. Per la versione completa e aggiornata, visita:
Verrai reindirizzato automaticamente...
In a constantly evolving job market, choosing an educational path after high school is a crucial decision for young people’s futures. University is no longer the only road to a successful career. There are valid, practical alternatives with extremely high employment rates: ITS Academies (Istituti Tecnologici Superiori, or Higher Technological Institutes). In this scenario, the role of the guidance counselor emerges strongly, a professional tasked with guiding students and families toward a conscious, informed choice aligned with the demands of the business world. This article explores how guidance counselors can present ITS programs, highlighting their connection to innovation, the Made in Italy tradition, and opportunities in the European market.
Indeed, academic guidance is no longer just advice, but a strategic action to combat dropout rates and the mismatch between skills and labor demand. ITS Academies represent a concrete response to this challenge, offering tertiary vocational training that combines theoretical knowledge with practical experience in companies. Their success is proven by the numbers: according to INDIRE monitoring data, 87% of ITS graduates find a job within a year of graduating, and for 93.8% of them, it is a job consistent with their field of study. This is data that every guidance counselor should know and share.
Officially introduced by Ministerial Decree No. 328 of 2022, the guidance counselor is a strategic figure within secondary schools. Their main task is to support students and their families in the process of choosing a post-high school educational or professional path. This is not a mere “advisor,” but a professional who facilitates the match between a student’s aptitudes and talents and the real opportunities offered by the educational system and the job market. This role complements that of the tutor teacher, who focuses on personalizing learning and identifying each student’s potential.
Their action is fundamental to overcoming old cultural biases, which often see university as the only path to professional fulfillment. The guidance counselor, armed with data and knowledge of the local context, has the task of presenting concrete and valuable alternatives, such as ITS Academies. To do this effectively, they must possess not only pedagogical skills but also a deep knowledge of the educational offerings and the needs of businesses, using tools and resources for effective guidance. Their guidance can literally change a young person’s career path, directing them toward a future of success and satisfaction.
ITS Academies are post-high school “schools of excellence for high-tech specialization,” created to meet companies’ demand for new technical and technological skills. They are structured as participation foundations that include schools, universities, training institutions, and, above all, companies, which actively collaborate in designing the courses. This unbreakable link with the world of work is their greatest strength. The programs usually last two years (1,800/2,000 hours) and require that at least 30% of the hours be spent in a company internship, with at least 60% of instructors coming from the professional world.
Unlike university, which has a more theoretical and academic approach, ITS Academies offer practical, lab-based training oriented toward solving real-world problems. At the end of the two-year program, students earn a Diploma of Higher Technician (Level 5 EQF), which is recognized nationally and throughout Europe. The technological areas covered are those strategic for the country’s development: energy efficiency, sustainable mobility, information technology, new technologies for Made in Italy (mechanics, fashion, agri-food), and technologies for cultural heritage and activities. With an employment rate exceeding 80% one year after graduation, ITS Academies are establishing themselves as a preferred channel for a qualified and rapid entry into the job market.
One of the most fascinating aspects of ITS programs is their ability to combine the great Italian manufacturing and cultural tradition with the most advanced frontiers of technological innovation. The goal is not to train simple technicians, but “super-technicians” capable of carrying the precious heritage of Made in Italy into the future through digitalization and sustainability. This combination is the key to the competitiveness of our production system and represents a powerful argument for the guidance counselor’s work.
Imagine a precision mechanics company, a local leader, that needs to integrate collaborative robotics and artificial intelligence to optimize production. Or an old fashion house that wants to use 3D design and new eco-sustainable materials for its collections. ITS Academies train exactly these profiles: professionals who know the traditional “know-how” but master Industry 4.0 technologies. Programs in mechatronics, automation, fashion, and design prepare young people capable of innovating production processes, making our companies more competitive in global markets and strengthening the synergy between training and businesses.
The Italian and Mediterranean context offers a unique global heritage in terms of cultural assets, tourism, and food and wine. In these sectors, too, innovation is crucial. ITS Academies dedicated to these fields train professionals capable of enhancing the local area in a modern and sustainable way. Think of a Hospitality Manager who uses data analysis to create personalized tourist experiences, or a digital marketing technician specializing in promoting immersive cultural itineraries using augmented reality. These programs, like those offered by ITS in Puglia, Sicily, or Abruzzo, transform a passion for culture and art into highly sought-after professions, capable of managing and promoting the “Italy” brand worldwide.
The diploma awarded by ITS Academies is not just an educational qualification, but a true passport to the professional world, valid and recognized throughout Europe. It corresponds to Level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), a system that allows for the comparison of professional qualifications of citizens from different countries. This means that a higher technician who graduated in Italy holds a title that is immediately understandable and marketable to a German, French, or Spanish company, facilitating professional mobility within the European Union.
The strength of ITS programs lies in their design, which is created to bridge the “mismatch,” or the gap between the skills required by companies and those offered by the education system. The courses are built on the real needs of the business landscape, not only locally but also internationally. Companies are not mere spectators but key players in the training. This ensures that the skills acquired by students—technical, digital, and soft skills—are exactly what the market is looking for. In an economic context where a growing demand for specialized technicians is estimated, an ITS graduate enters the workforce with a huge competitive advantage, ready to contribute to the innovation and growth of European companies.
The guidance counselor has the responsibility of illuminating the path that leads students toward their future. In presenting ITS Academies, their role is that of an architect of possibilities, showing a solid alternative path to university. They must go beyond simply transmitting information, acting as a true “agent of change” culturally within the school and among families. Their ability to measure the effectiveness of guidance becomes crucial to ensuring a real impact.
To be convincing, a guidance counselor must use an approach based on concrete data and success stories. Instead of just describing the courses, they can organize meetings with ITS graduates who now hold positions of responsibility in local companies, showing tangible examples of brilliant careers. It is essential to use data from Unioncamere and INDIRE on employment to demonstrate, with figures in hand, the effectiveness of these programs. Another winning strategy is to bring companies into the school: have a manager directly explain what professional profiles they are looking for and why an ITS graduate is often the ideal candidate. This creates a direct bridge between the classroom and the world of work, making the choice more concrete and less abstract.
In Italy, a university degree is often perceived as the only prestigious educational achievement. One of the most delicate tasks of the guidance counselor is to dismantle this preconception by openly talking with students and families. It is important to emphasize that ITS and university are not in competition but represent two different paths, both of higher education, that cater to different inclinations and professional goals. While university is ideal for those aspiring to academic careers or regulated professions, an ITS is the perfect choice for those with a practical aptitude who desire a rapid and qualified entry into the job market. In this dialogue, it is essential to involve parents, explaining that the family’s role in these choices is decisive and that supporting a child in choosing an ITS means investing in a future with a very high probability of employment success.
The guidance counselor and ITS Academies represent two fundamental pillars for the future of young people and the competitiveness of the Italian system. On one hand, we have a strategic professional figure, the guidance counselor, tasked with guiding students through a complex educational landscape, overcoming biases, and showing all possible paths to success. On the other, a tertiary education system, that of the ITS, which has proven to be extraordinarily effective in creating the skills that companies really need, ensuring record-high employment rates.
The union of these two forces can generate a virtuous cycle: more aware and motivated students who choose highly specialized paths, companies that find the talent they need to innovate and grow, and a country that finally values its manufacturing and cultural tradition in a modern way. To realize this potential, the role of the guidance counselor must be fully supported and trained, and knowledge of ITS Academies must become common knowledge for students, families, and the entire school community. Investing in guidance and ITS Academies means investing in the future of work.
The guidance counselor is a new professional role introduced in Italian secondary schools by Ministerial Decree 328 of December 22, 2022. Their main task is to support students and families in the process of choosing an educational and professional path after high school. Unlike the tutor teacher, who focuses on personalizing the student’s learning, the guidance counselor acts as a bridge between an individual’s aspirations and the real opportunities in the job market and the education system, including universities, ITS Academies, and other options. This figure helps to overcome biases and make informed choices based on data and the real needs of the local area.
Higher Technological Institutes (ITS Academies) are post-high school institutions for advanced technical specialization that offer two or three-year training programs. They are considered a valid alternative to university because they provide very practical tertiary education, designed in close collaboration with businesses. At least 30% of the program consists of company internships, and over half of the instructors come from the professional world, ensuring immediately marketable skills. The result is a very high employment rate: the latest INDIRE monitoring report states that 87% of graduates find a job within a year of graduation. They therefore represent an excellent choice for those seeking a quick and qualified entry into the workforce.
The employment rates for ITS Academy graduates are exceptionally high and are one of the main strengths of these programs. According to the 2024 national monitoring report by INDIRE, 87% of graduates are employed one year after obtaining their diploma. An even more significant figure is that 93.8% of these employed graduates found a job consistent with their field of study. These numbers, which are significantly higher than those of other educational paths, demonstrate the effectiveness of the ITS model in meeting the needs of the job market and in training professionals who are highly sought after by companies.
ITS Academies are a perfect example of how the Made in Italy tradition can be projected into the future through innovation. Many courses focus on key sectors of the Italian economy such as mechanics, fashion, agri-food, and cultural tourism. Instead of just teaching traditional techniques, these programs integrate advanced skills related to Industry 4.0, such as robotics, 3D design, artificial intelligence, sustainability, and digital marketing. In this way, they train professionals capable of innovating the production processes of historic companies or enhancing Mediterranean cultural heritage with modern technological tools, ensuring Italy’s competitiveness in the global market.
Yes, the Diploma of Higher Technician obtained at the end of an ITS Academy program is fully recognized at a national and European level. The title corresponds to Level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), a standardized system that allows for the “translation” and comparison of qualifications obtained in different member states of the European Union. This gives the diploma international validity, making an ITS graduate a desirable professional not only for Italian companies but also for those in the European market, facilitating mobility and career opportunities beyond national borders.
ITS Academies (Istituti Tecnologici Superiori) are post-high school educational programs that are an alternative to university. They offer advanced technological specialization in strategic economic areas, such as mechatronics, digital technology, and Made in Italy. They are talked about a lot because they are designed together with companies and guarantee a very high employment rate: over 80% of graduates find a job within a year.
The main difference is the approach. University offers a solid theoretical and academic preparation, which is often broader. An ITS, on the other hand, is a shorter (two-year) and very practical program, with at least 35% of the hours dedicated to company internships. The goal of an ITS is to train “super-technicians” who are ready to enter the workforce immediately with specific skills required by businesses.
No program can guarantee a job 100%, but the data from ITS Academies are very encouraging. Nationally, the percentage of graduates who find a job consistent with their studies within 12 months exceeds 80%, and in some regions and sectors, it reaches as high as 92%. This is because the courses are created to meet the real demand of local companies.
Yes, the title awarded is a “Diploma of Higher Technician” which corresponds to Level 5 of the European Qualifications Framework (EQF). This makes it a recognized and marketable qualification throughout the European Union, facilitating professional mobility. Additionally, many institutes also issue a Europass Diploma Supplement to better describe the skills acquired.
The guidance counselor is a key figure recently introduced in high schools. Their job is to help students and families make informed choices by presenting all post-high school opportunities. In particular, they can explain the advantages of ITS programs, connect a student’s aspirations with the demands of the job market, and show how this option can be a valid and concrete alternative to a university degree.