Italian Language Curriculum Versus Labour Market Challenges

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to emphasize the issues that arise from the actual application of Italian language curriculum versus nowadays labour market challenges that are met in Albania and abroad, and to offer possible solutions related to it. In this research we are going to present a summarized overview of the Italian language curriculum for both existing studies’ cycles in the Faculty of Foreign Languages, of the development of this language in the Albanian framework, a summarized overview on the Italian or Italian-Albanian enterprises operating in our country and the employment needs they have.It is a well-known fact that the Italian language cannot be considered an instrumental language; therefore, there are encountered difficulties in studying, acknowledging and using it within this framework. From the surveys carried on with first year students in our faculty, there is noticed a lack of motivation from their part in studying Italian, a very significant indicator which emphasizes the difficulties this language faces while functioning as a labour language in a labour market. Of course, this will result in a drastic reduction in the number of students who want to study Italian, and a decrease in the quality of students who will apply in our faculty in the upcoming years. It is true that the average marks of students learning Italian has been that of a decreasing trend. Also, the employment index of graduated students according to the proper study profile is very low, and this highlights the low level of needs and requirements that labour market offers for this students’ profile.Therefore, there arises the necessity of an urgent intervention in the curriculum of this language, to offer programmes which are suitable to the education of people who can find a job in their study field in the future. Also, this intervention is necessary not only in the employment framework, but also in handling the challenges that we face due to globalization; in order to make our faculty and especially the programs offered by the Italian department more attractive, so that they can serve to the requirements and needs of the future, in collaboration with local and foreign institutions. The ways and the forms of this intervention and the proposals will be a very important part of this research. This intervention will be vertical, as well as horizontal, for more efficiency and productivity in the education of people capable to manage future challenges.

DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2014.v4n2p447