Integration between study and work: what is the way forward?

11 December 2019

There is a good news and a bad one on the employment situation in Italy. Istat has registered an unemployment rate at its historic minimum of 9.5%, with a 59.2% employment rate in October 2019. On the other hand, NEET, an English acronym for (Young people) Neither in Employment nor in Education or Training, is increasing. There are over 2 million people between the ages of 15 and 29 who are not engaged in study or work in our country, with 16% in Lombardia.

In the article “Preventing the onset of NEETs through the integration of study and work” Giovanni Masino, Full Professor of Business Organization at the University of Ferrara, Co-Director of CREIC- Research Center on Innovation Economics and of Knowledge and lecturer in Organizational Behavior in the Master in HR & Organization of Bologna Business School, supports the importance of pursuing innovative paths of transition and integration of study and work by universities.

What for?

“Reducing and, even better, preventing the significant problems of alignment between demand and supply of jobs that mainly affect young people – argues Masino in the article – (…) This can bring significant benefits not only for them but also for companies and the socio-economic context as a whole”.

What role can education play? “The University has the responsibility to prepare students to face the transition between study and work – explains Giovanni Masino – It is an uncertain and difficult passage, a bridge between two worlds that appear totally different, a crucial moment for the future of young people and for the country’s ability to form high-quality and well-employed human capital. Can we imagine innovative ways to facilitate and improve the effectiveness of this transition?”.

In this regard, the Masters come into play which – as emerged from a recent study by Il Sole 24 Ore – have an employment rate of 82.6% one year from the title. For Bologna Business School the placement exceeds 90% six months after the end of the full-time course.

Compared to the classic specialist degree, the Masters focus on the mindset of the individual, combining the specific background of the individual areas with autonomous and flexible professional development, stimulating curiosity and encouraging the construction of open and effective interpersonal networks.

Interdisciplinarity, integration and internationality are the cornerstones of Bologna Business School’s training offer, which offers Global MBA programs to develop a solid understanding of how organizations operate in an international environment, Master Full Timer for those who want to turn their ambitions into concrete projects, Executive Master for professionals who want to make a change in their career and Open Programs to develop an integrated approach.