Its Academy in Salerno to train agrifood talents

From Agri-Food Tech 4.0 to Food Processing Innovations. This is the heart of the training offer of the Its Academy Te.La. (Territory of Labour) in Salerno, the first training pole for the agri-food industry in Campania.

The institute, led by entrepreneur Sabato D'Amico, has been operational since 2023, and has immediately joined the new technological-professional chain, the 4+2 model, i.e. four years of secondary school plus two in the Its Academy. Among the schools involved is the Antonio Pacinotti institute in Scafati (Sa): about twenty students are attending the four-year course in mechanics and mechatronics.

The new and innovative training offer was illustrated yesterday during the conference 'Business and Education: analysis and prospects of the 4+2 reform', organised by Confindustria Salerno, before a packed hall of students, teachers, entrepreneurs and stakeholders. "4+2 is the right training offer for students and companies," stressed Riccardo Di Stefano, the Confindustria president's delegate for Education and Open Innovation. "The reference model is that of the Its Academy, which recognises the central role of companies. A successful model that we are also exporting abroad with the Mattei Plan'.

By September, 400 schools throughout Italy will have joined the new technical chain, with around 10,000 students. In Campania, over 90 institutes have joined, 23 of which are in Salerno. "With 4+2 we are innovating didactics," explained the MD of MIM, Maurizio Adamo Chiappa, "Now we are ready for a blanket orientation campaign, starting with middle schools. Agreed the president of the Its Te.La. Sabato D'Amico agrees, highlighting "the importance of making the Its Academy known to families, students and teachers", starting with the 84% employment rate (and in 93% of cases consistent with the training course undertaken, source: Indire).

And if Vincenzo Iennaco, vice-president of Confindustria Salerno delegate for relations with schools and universities, reiterated the need for a "close link between training and work", the headmaster of the Pacinotti school, Adriana Maria Loredana Miro, reiterated how 4+2 is a winning formula that gives impetus to all technical education. The students confirmed this, emphasising the importance of leaving school a year earlier and taking an innovative and immediately practical training course.