Since 2010 there has been a new postgraduate training institution in Italy: the ITS, Professional Technical Institutes.

The purpose of ITS is to give professionalising trainingconcrete and above all in step with the changing world. The courses are constantly evolving and are shaped by the needs of local companies and technological innovations.

There are five active ITS courses in ITS Move Academy: Logistics and Mobility, Import-Export, E-commerce, Supply Chain e Industry 4.0.

What are ITS?

The Istituti Tecnici Superiori are highly specialised technological schools that allow students to acquire the Higher Technical Diploma, equated at European level to a three-year degree (V EQF level).

Courses usually last two yearsduring which they alternate classroom and in-company periods. By law, at least 30% of the course must take place in a company: for ITS Move Academy students, the percentage rises to 50%.

Higher Technical Institutes allow you to specialise in one of six thematic areasdefined by the Ministry of Education:

  • Energy efficiency
  • Sustainable mobility
  • New technologies of life
  • New technologies for Made in Italy
  • Innovative Technologies for Cultural and Tourism Heritage and Activities
  • Information and communication technology

At the end of the course, students are required to take a final examination. The test will consist of a written, a practical and an oral part. To be eligible for the test you must have attended at least 80% of the course duration and get a positive evaluation.

At the end of the examination, if successful, the commission awards the candidate the Higher Technical Diploma.

Why choose a Higher Technical Institute?

More and more students are choosing higher technical colleges as post-diploma courses. In Lombardy alone in the last four years there has been a increase of 140% of boys and girls enrolled in such an institute.

But why enrol in an ITS?

  • For hands-on training, with plenty of opportunities to get hands-on.
  • To learn the professions of the future, thanks to continuously updated teaching.
  • Because at least half of the lecturers are professionals in their field.
  • Because more than 80% of graduates find a job one year after graduation (in ITS Move Academy they are 96%).

These are just some of the reasons why Higher Technical Institutes may be the right path after graduation.

How to apply for an ITS? Requirements and admission

To register for an ITS course, you need a Higher Secondary Education Diploma. If you hold a four-year Vocational Education Diploma, you must attend a one-year supplementary IFTS course before gaining access.

In addition to a diploma, it is preferable that a candidate also have a good knowledge of the language English and thecomputing. Non-binding entry tests are planned to test this knowledge. If necessary, it is also possible for the institute to organise remedial hours to align pupils' skills in these two areas.

Finally, the last selection step for a Higher Technical Institute is usually a motivational interview. During this interview, the applicant meets representatives of the school and has the opportunity to tell them about themselves and their motivations for enrolling. It is also a time to share any last doubts and questions and to make sure everything is clear before enrolment.

The language and computer tests and the motivational interview are the tools that a Technical High School has to assess candidates and make the selection: places in classes are limited.

To learn about the ITS Move Academy admission process in detail click here.

Author of the article

ITS MOVE - Editor