ABSTRACT
Designing a professional training course entails defining all the aspects of the training situation and harmonising them within an integrated, coherent system. Most European countries possess structures, procedures and activities which aim to anticipate the training needs of production systems as a result of technological and organisational changes. Major experience gained in several European Union countries may be a useful reference point in a phase in which Italy is attempting to develop from a situation with a large number of models and tools in various areas and sectors to the definition of a single general model at national level. In Italy, those involved in matters concerning the world of employment and training - central and local government, social actors, training institutes - have become convinced of the urgent need to tackle the problem of needs analysis organically. A permanent national system for identifying training needs is currently being established, connected to a national observatory on professions.
