Digital skills boost for young people in Italy

Young people in Italy who are not studying or working will have the opportunity to gain digital skills and certificates towards employment in IT and cybersecurity through a new nationwide programme, ReadyForIT+.

From this week, eligible 18- to 34-year-olds can apply for short training courses to build the digital skills or qualifications most in demand by companies. Participants can also benefit from career guidance and assistance with job placements.

Young people not in education, employment, or training (NEETs)represent a quarter of Italy’s population aged 15-34, and at the same time many companies struggle to find young people with IT skills.

To meet this challenge, the ReadyForIT+ project has been launched by Accenture ETS Foundation and Vodafone Foundation Italy in partnership with profit and non-profits in digital training. It is one of the winning projects promoted through Italy’s Digital Republic Fund.

There are two tiers of ReadyForIT+ remote training courses, which operate independently of each other and are three or six months long depending on complexity. The courses are delivered remotely and will start in September 2023.

The first-level courses, delivered by Academy Rapido, last three months and provide skills towards a career in IT support or cybersecurity. Second-level, six-month courses, train professional skills in web/mobile development, Salesforce, and data analytics.

Adriana Versino, President of Vodafone Foundation Italy, said: “The partnership allows us to offer an opportunity to those who have not yet found their way. We cannot afford to condemn these young people to the margins, and this collaboration with the public and for-profit sectors can be an opportunity to help young people acquire the skills they need to find work”.