Next Academy launches in Caivano, offering training and employment opportunities for 40 young people

New training and employment opportunities for young people in the local area. The Caivano Next Academy is launching: a project aimed at young people aged between 18 and 29, with a particular focus on the unemployed, NEETs (those not in education, employment or training) and those seeking their first job. The initiative was launched in the presence of the Minister for Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and the Government’s Special Commissioner, Fabio Ciciliano, at the former municipal library in Pascarola, which is set to house the Green Academy.

“I dream of a Green Academy and a Food Academy that will bring the whole world to Caivano.” This was stated by the Minister for Universities and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, on the sidelines of the presentation of the Caivano Next Academy, as she reflected on the future of the educational institutions established in the area. “The continuity of these initiatives lies in the hands of the young people, the local and regional authorities, but above all the institutions themselves, which, in order to grow, must be flexible and able to identify the needs of the market,” explained Bernini. “The great challenge of our times is to train people for jobs, trades and skills that, in part, do not yet exist,” she added, highlighting the importance of new technologies, from drones and satellites to the sensors used in innovative agriculture. “We must be responsive to change and capable of expanding internationally,” Bernini concluded, emphasising the need for the projects launched in Caivano to continue even beyond the current administration’s term.

Food Academy

This was followed by a visit to the Food Academy, housed in the former municipal abattoir in Caivano. The project aims to combine the regeneration of public buildings with the creation of new career opportunities, through training programmes tailored to the skills required by the labour market. Two areas have been identified: environmental sustainability and the agri-food and catering sectors. The Green Academy focuses on the circular economy, sustainability, resource management and green-related activities. The Food Academy, on the other hand, focuses on training in the fields of cooking and catering, with particular emphasis on promoting local produce, food safety and practical skills. A total of 40 places have been allocated for the first intake, divided equally between the two courses.

The training programme comprises 100 hours of activities spread over three months, with a greater emphasis on practical exercises than on theoretical lessons, supplemented by 100 hours of work experience at partner companies. The aim is to support participants in acquiring transferable skills and to facilitate direct contact with the business world. The courses will be delivered in collaboration with the University of Naples Federico II, whilst Deloitte Consulting, Officine Innovazione and Zest Group have been involved to support participants’ subsequent entry into the world of work. The initiative forms part of the wider programme of urban and social regeneration launched in Caivano.