Rome, May 19th 2026 – On Friday, May 15th, the prestigious Sala Solari at the national Confcommercio Congress Centre in Rome hosted the conference
“Quality and Recognition: The Italian Language School System Between Standardization and Certification”.
The event, promoted by Uniter in collaboration with ASILS – Association of Schools of Italian as a Second Language, officially presented the new UNI 11863 Standard, the national benchmark defining service requirements for schools teaching Italian language and culture to foreigners.
Moderated by ASILS Secretary Dr. Fabrizio Fucile, the conference brought together directors of Italian language schools from across Italy, both in person and online, opening an important discussion on the future recognition and qualification of private Italian L2 institutions.
Institutional Perspectives and Technical Contributions
The conference opened with remarks from Dr. Luciano Gaiotti (Director of Uniter and Vice President of Accredia), who emphasized the increasingly strategic role of the Italian language for foreign citizens wishing to live and work in Italy, especially within essential services and the care sector.
Attention then shifted toward institutional and educational perspectives.
Prof. Ornella Cuzzupi, member of the Higher Council of the Italian Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM), expressed her commitment to fostering dialogue between institutions in order to strengthen the recognition and regulation of private Italian L2 schools.
From an academic standpoint, Prof. Sabrina Machetti, Director of the CILS and DITALS Centres at the University for Foreigners of Siena, explained how the UNI standard represents a concrete opportunity for organizational growth and constructive collaboration within the sector.
Operational and international challenges were also addressed by Emmanuel Maio (Head of Communication at Eduitalia) and Maria Fusco (former Director of the Education Office at the Italian Embassy in Washington and Eduitalia collaborator), who highlighted the need for stronger dialogue with public institutions, particularly regarding the complex issue of study visas.
ASILS, Sector Growth and a Historic Decision
One of the most anticipated moments of the conference was the speech delivered by Wolfango Poggi, Treasurer and Board Member of ASILS, who illustrated the historical significance of this milestone using data from the Association’s latest 2025 Report.
“Schools of Italian Language are no longer a niche sector, but a strategic pillar of Italy’s educational and tourism system. In 2025, ASILS schools recorded growth exceeding 5%, surpassing 30,400 enrolled students. More than 27,000 international students chose an onsite experience in Italy, generating over 800,000 tourist presence days and an estimated economic impact exceeding 63 million euros.”
To protect and strengthen this sector, ASILS also announced a decisive institutional step:
The Association has formally introduced the mandatory adoption of the UNI 11863 Standard directly into its Statute. Compliance with the standard is now a binding requirement for the admission of new member schools.
All current ASILS schools have already undergone inspections based on the new checklist and will continue to be subject to annual maintenance audits. The goal is clear: to ensure that the ASILS brand represents an internationally recognized guarantee of excellence for students and partners worldwide.
International Standards and Future Perspectives
Strong international support for the initiative also came from Giorgia Bicelli, representing IALC, the worldwide association of accredited language centres, who confirmed the global value of the UNI 11863 Standard as a powerful development tool for the sector.
Representing the Italian Ministry of Tourism, Lawyer Francesco Palmigiani, member of the Scientific Committee and National Tourism Observatory, described Italian language schools as true “centres of hospitality and cultural promotion”, capable of strengthening Italy’s economy and international reputation.
Finally, Silvia Trivini, Senior Manager at Uniter, retraced the technical path that led to the creation of the standard, emphasizing that this achievement is not an endpoint, but rather the beginning of a broader journey toward spreading a culture of quality across the entire Italian L2 sector.
The Future: ASILS Promoting a Shared Path
Recognizing UNI 11863 as the national reference standard for all Italian L2 schools — both private and public — ASILS thanked everyone who contributed to this important achievement.
From today onward, the Association officially positions itself as a promoter of an ongoing and concrete path of dialogue, cooperation, and institutional collaboration with governmental bodies and sector associations, with the aim of giving Italian language education the central role it deserves within the international landscape.
