TRENTO — On September 22, from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM, the official launch webinar for the “Social Innovation and Economy” training programme -led by the Autonomous province of Trento (PAT)- was held, marking a major milestone for the European ESIC project.
The event was opened with introductory remarks by Ms Cristina Ioriatti, Head of the Vocational Education Department, who emphasized how the core themes of social economy and innovation are deeply rooted in the territory’s identity of Trentino. Ms Ioriatti highlighted that these values draw directly from a long-standing local tradition defined by a strong culture of cooperation, solidarity, and community initiative. The webinar also saw the participation of Ms Denise Alessandri, Director of the European Funds Office.
Ms Ilaria Mascitti moderated the webinar and presented the school community, composed of 31 teachers from various disciplines, representing 16 local upper-secondary schools and vocational institutions. A group of 18 teachers opted for the complete track, which includes the full set of training modules (M1-M6) as well as active participation in the co-design lab (M7). Additionally, Ms Mariacarolina Leo reminded participants about the pre-pilot survey, clarifying that completing both the baseline and final surveys is essential from a project management perspective to measure the overall effectiveness of the learning process.
Curriculum structure and expert trainers
The second part of the webinar focused on presenting FIDIA, the organization entrusted with developing and delivering the course content. Mr Roberto De Giorgis, Director of FIDIA, provided a comprehensive overview of the training programme, detailing its overall structure and progression across the 7 planned modules.
FIDIA trainers participated in the webinar and introduced themselves outlining their respective areas of expertise:
- Mr Riccardo Loss, who will lead Modules M1, M2 and M7;
- Mr Theofanis Vervelacis, who will guide participants through Modules M3, M4, M5, and M7;
- Ms Laura Ricci, co-responsible together with Mr Alessandro Zorer for Module M6.
The webinar was a resounding success, bringing together 32 participants, among them 26 teachers who engaged actively throughout the Q&A segment to seek clarification on key details on course delivery.
During the meeting, participants were also guided through a hands-on walkthrough of Howspace, the digital platform hosting the course. The presentation showcased the main sections of the workspace, illustrating how teachers can access learning materials, interact with trainers, and collaborate throughout the modules.
Empowering teachers for classroom success
A key highlight of the presentation was the practical value of the training programme. Designed as a methodological and pedagogical toolbox, the course aims to provide concrete support for teachers’ daily classroom activities. In particular, it is tailored to seamlessly integrate into key educational frameworks such as Civic and Citizenship Education (Educazione Civica e alla Cittadinanza), Work-Related Learning (Alternanza Scuola-Lavoro), and Career Guidance (Orientamento).
Stay tuned and follow our upcoming news updates as this innovative learning journey unfolds and brings social innovation directly into the classroom!
Author: PAT Project team
Mariacarolina Leo
Ilaria Mascitti
Gaia Trecarichi
