It is not just an anniversary, but proof that the “mismatch” between scholastic skills and market demands can be filled. Today, at the TorreAllianz auditorium in Milan, Allianz Italia celebrated the tenth anniversary of the School-Work Duality projectan initiative that since 2016 has transformed alternation into a concrete and paid professional experience.
In these ten years, the project has been able to weave a deep bond between classroom and office. In fact, the numbers speak of constant success: 330 students involved, 30 high school students hired every year with a 30% part-time contract, 8,000 euros of gross annual salary (with all the company benefits of any other Allianz employee) and partnerships with 7 schools.
Unlike the classic school-work alternation, the model adopted by Allianz is inspired by the German dual tradition, supported by AHK Italien (Italian-German Chamber of Commerce). Students do not just observe how industry experts work, but are actively involved throughout the period. While the school year unfolds, they live the experience in the company for three days a month, and then immerse themselves completely in work during the summer. At the end of the two-year period, they obtain the DUAL.Project certification, a title recognized throughout Europe which attests to the skills that the children have gained during the experience in the insurance-financial field, project management and soft skills.
«The Allianz Italia School-Work Duality project constitutes an exemplary first-level apprenticeship experience in our country, open to high school and technical institute students. Allianz Italia wanted to permanently adopt and improve over time this extraordinary training experience which allows the students involved to acquire certified skills which, included in the student’s curriculum, can from this school year be discussed in the interview for the new high school leaving exam, contributing to enhancing the personal growth of the examinees during their studies”, declared Carmela Palumbo (Ministry of Education and Merit).
The impact of the project is measured in the long term. Many former participants declared that the experience at Allianz was the key to guiding their university choices and to standing out in selection interviews, even abroad. To date, seven young people who started working at Allianz thanks to the project have been hired on a permanent basis after graduation.
But the benefit is mutual. Letizia Barbi, Human Resources Manager of Allianz SpAunderlined the value of “generational dialogue”: the freshness of the students has in fact positively influenced their senior colleagues, favoring a more dynamic climate inclined towards innovation.
Allianz Italia does not intend to keep this recipe to itself. On the occasion of the tenth anniversary, the General Director Maurizio Devescovi has launched an invitation to other Italian production companies: Allianz is ready to share skills to replicate the model. The objective is to create a widespread system that can offer an ever-increasing number of young people a dignified and qualified entry into the world of work.
