FiberCop together with students to train the next generation of telecommunications professionals

With the project 'FiberCop for the school, the school for FiberCop' thirty experts from the company - which manages the most advanced network infrastructure in the country - carried out 150 hours of training involving ten institutes and around 300 students in workshops, orientation days, classroom meetings and visits to power stations. A bridge between school and work that talks about innovation and skills, to help train the next generation of professionals in the telecommunications sector.

Four months after its launch, FiberCop makes an initial assessment of the project aimed at creating a bridge between the worlds of school and work, which involved over 300 girls and boys from 10 institutions in seven Italian regions. The programme provided specific training for 100 FiberCop professionals, turning them into trainers and role models capable of communicating effectively with male and female students. From Trentino to Sicily, passing through Veneto, Lazio, Marche, Liguria and Tuscany, the project continues to grow: by the end of the school year it will touch other technical institutes and high schools in the peninsula.

"Participating in the FiberCop project," says one student, "was a very exciting experience. I had no idea how rich the world of telecommunications is in opportunities. The internship, meetings and workshops introduced me to this sector in a practical way and with each lesson I felt more and more involved. Visiting a power station, seeing 'live' how the fibre optic system works and listening to the testimonies of the professionals at FiberCop clarified my ideas about the future: I now understood the importance of the network for Italy's digital growth. This project has also created a link between school and work, preparing me and my classmates for a career in the technology sector'.

"Why is optical fibre important and how does it work?", "What is meant by decommissioning?", "What is the role of the optical fibre network for Italy's digital growth?" These were some of the questions that sparked discussion during the workshops on cybersecurity, broadband networks and digital infrastructure. Classroom theory was flanked by practical demonstrations in the power station to see the technological heart of the network. The students emphasised how the real-life testimonies provided a clear and concrete view of the world of work in telecommunications, helping them to make more informed choices for their professional future. In April, the project includes a 26-hour internship for 19 students from Iis Magarotto in Rome who, accompanied by a company tutor, will have a full professional experience. Other internship experiences will also be launched in the Marche and Veneto regions.

With 'FiberCop for the school, the school for FiberCop', the company makes a concrete investment in young people, passing on skills, stimulating passions and helping to build the new generation of experts who will lead Italy towards an increasingly connected future. 'I believe that the project,' says the FiberCop trainer, 'is an extraordinary and deeply educational initiative. Giving students the opportunity to get up close to the world of telecommunications and interact with experts in the field has opened their minds to new possibilities. This meeting made what they had studied in the classroom more tangible, allowed them to make an important leap from theory to practice, and fostered an understanding of technical skills. I saw the students stimulated, curious and involved, and it was also a moment of growth for us". The trainer continues, "The practical demonstrations and first-hand accounts made the teaching content come alive. I am convinced that projects like this are fundamental in creating a solid bridge between school and work, encouraging young people to consider careers in the technology sector and preparing them to build Italy's digital future".