From 2026, volunteering activities will make a decisive leap: the skills acquired in the field will be able to be formally recognized in the workplace, school and university environment. With the entry into force of the Decree of 31 July 2025, published in the Official Journal, the Third Sector is finally valorised as a place of non-formal learning, capable of producing concrete and certifiable skills.
What changes for volunteers and students
Those who carry out voluntary activities will be able to obtain an official certificate of skills, which can be used in public competitions, in professional certification courses and in the university system. In particular, in public competitions the certificate will guarantee priority in the event of a tie in scores, while in universities it can be translated into training credits, with the aim of reaching up to 12 ECTS credits. This is a recognition that transforms the solidarity commitment into a measurable and useful value for the future.
The requirements to access recognition
To start the procedure it will be necessary to have carried out at least 60 hours of volunteering in 12 months. The activity must be included within a personalized project, agreed between the volunteer and the organisation, with clear objectives and expected results. Tutoring is also fundamental, entrusted to expert figures from the non-profit world, who will accompany the volunteer on the path and in the description of the skills acquired.
The role of Third Sector Bodies
The Third Sector Bodies (ETS) registered with RUNTS will have a central role: they will be responsible for identifying and making skills transparent, following simplified procedures that comply with national standards. The subsequent validation and certification will instead remain entrusted to the entitled public bodies, guaranteeing uniformity and reliability of the system. Collaboration with national dual centers is also envisaged, to strengthen the quality of the processes.
Recognized skills and social value
The decree recognizes volunteering as a privileged space for the development of transversal skills: teamwork, problem solving, effective communication, organisation, digital skills and life skills. These skills, often decisive in the world of work, finally become legible and comparable thanks to the connection with the national skills certification system and European frameworks.
A change of perspective for the Third Sector
With this reform, volunteering goes beyond the exclusively value-based dimension and takes on a recognized educational and professional profile. It is a step that strengthens the dignity of the Third Sector and offers young people and adults a new opportunity to transform civil commitment into personal and employment growth.
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