International graduate retention in Italy: does it work?

As the Pie reported on January 16th, 2020, Denmark has announced it is supporting five new projects to boost graduate retention. “Not enough [students] are using their education in the Danish labour market afterwards, and therefore represent a large cost to Danish society.

This, because they are educated for the benefit of labour markets in other countries,” said the government at the time of the study. Apparently, 42% of international graduates leaves the country within two years after graduation.

The project aims at educating foreign graduates about how the Danish job market works. As well, the project will include elements such ast he instruction of the Danish language, use of mentor models, focusing on the relationship to the workforce and on practice while studying and in jobs alongside studies.

The issue involves a very practical question: shall (Danish) taxpayers fund the education of foreign students?

Especially, if these students are not bound to stay in the country after graduation. In a context where state funds are inevitably shrinking as a component of welfare state, even in socially advanced EU Northern countries someone is starting making themselves questions.

The Italian scenario

In Italy there no such scheme in operation. First, the number of international students in Italy is not rocketing.

Further, the placement of international students is basically left to the goodwill of universities and their capacity to involve private and public companies for such purpose.

On their side, companies do not particularly fancy foreign graduates. The main reason is that often those graduates are not very fluent in Italian.

With the rise of courses held in English, which today account for more than 20% of the total, foreigners are not automatically encouraged to learn Italian. An action that, again, is left to the goodwill of universities.

On top, most times an Italian degree will economically better pay the investment off back in their home country, or elsewhere in Europe.

In fact, international students holding an Italian degree are entitled to search for a job for a full year after graduation throughout the Schengen area.

If foreign students decide to try working in Italy, 47,5% of them will face a low-profile job, research shows. So maybe time is ripe to thing about a Danish-like retention project for Italy, as well.