Vocational training Students willing to leave the traditional school system can achieve a "professional qualification" through the vocational training, thus accomplishing the compulsory education period. Vocational training aims to facilitate access to employment through courses providing necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to get a job (or in keeping it). In Italy, vocational training courses are promoted by Regional Administrations; their task is to define the general contexts and methodologies of the training activities, taking into account general directions from the Ministry of Labour, and the European Commission coupled with social and economic factors related to their own territories. Courses are prepared and managed by the Centri di Formazione Professionale (Vocational Training Centres) or other authorised organisation; they are the parties to be contacted for individual course details or for enrolment. Region and Province administrations may be contacted for general purpose information; or you may browse through the specific Region web sites. There are courses at all levels, from basic (for compulsory school leavers) to top post graduate level. Vocational courses have been recently set up for the unemployed graduate, specifically for so called ‘weak’ (humanistic) graduates. These courses may be the outcome of inter-university partnerships, supported by the European Social Fund. They are in such case advertised on daily press. These courses may be the outcome of inter-university partnerships, supported by the European Social Fund. They are in such case advertised on daily press. Admission to courses is restricted to compulsory school leavers or, depending on the course, to holders of specific certificates (special qualifications, diploma or university graduation). Attendance is often limited to a certain number of students; in such case an admission test may need to be taken. Vocational training is either addressed to young or not so young job seekers, or to employees wishing to further their development or specialise for a new occupation. At the end of each course a certificate is issued, usually a qualification, specialisation, attendance, or practice/skill license conforming to a specific State Law (e.g.: commerce agent). Typical categories of training courses are normally listed as follows: orientamento (career guidance), qualifica (qualification), aggiornamento (refresher), specializzazione (specialisation), riqualifica e rinconversione (conversion), abilitazione (license). Other types of course, such as "supplementary training for State School" and "link education-career", may be reserved for young students or for young workers under special job contracts (e.g.: support courses for training-on-the-job contracts). As of lately, there is a (quality and quantity-wise) increase of courses addressed to diploma (high school) and laurea (university) certificate holders; normally, these courses are aimed to higher qualification or further improvement, and many of them include placement periods in industry workplaces. Region Administrations also promote training activities for special social groups, such as disabled people, drug addicts and prisoners. Specific training activities are envisaged for those groups who may be less-favoured in the labour market (e.g.: the drop-out students of an educational programme are all those who quit it before reaching its completion). Courses for diploma (high school) certificate holders normally range between 400 and 1200 hours; they allow closed number attendance only and admission is based on test-taker shortlist. Course topics may change annually with reference to the demand from the local productivity system. Placement periods are often included. There are two kinds of course which may be of greater interest for a diploma holder:
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