Cross-Boundary Learning Experience Urges HE Institutions to Change. Evidence From an Italian Case-Study

Italy has one of the lowest numbers of apprenticeships within higher education in Europe (Cedefop, 2021). Cultural reasons and rigid regulations prevent many Italian Universities from opening their courses to dual paths. A qualitative research highlights the strengths and weaknesses of a pioneering apprenticeship programme for undergraduates, which has been launched in 2017 by the University of Bergamo. The apprenticeship programme which is taking place at this University represents an excellent learning opportunity, both for apprentices and employers, but it seems that its results depend more on apprentices’ effort to link work experience to scientific knowledge, than specific didactic or organizational arrangements. Teachers’ and apprentices’ collaboration should be improved, also creating formal occasions to interrelate academic studying and work practice, while all stakeholders involved have to empower tutors’ role as cross-institutional figures, which can ask for study plan’s customization and training on the job implementation.