Intesa Sanpaolo and University of Genoa meet more than 700 students on future skills

The major global changes in the labour market linked to artificial intelligence, the blue and space economy, life science and the skills needed to tackle them, in addition to technical ones, such as soft skills, creativity, adaptability and the ability to quickly change one's mindset were among the topics discussed by Intesa Sanpaolo at the University of Genoa during a day dedicated to inspiring university and high school students to help them build their future in a more conscious way. Speeches included those by Jan Pachner, Secretary General One Ocean Foundation, and Caterina Cobino, Head of Partnerships and Special Projects, Fincantieri Innovation Directorate, who addressed the challenges and opportunities linked to a sector as relevant to our country as the Blue economy and the importance of a sustainable approach by all production activities that have an impact on the health of the sea.

The day, organised with the University of Genoa, is part of the "Look4ward - Build Your Future" initiative, Intesa Sanpaolo's programme of meetings to involve more than 10,000 students from all over Italy on the transformational processes of the economy and society and the skills for the jobs of the future. The aim is to deepen the knowledge of some key skills for educational and personal growth, including transversal skills, and promote in the younger generations a greater awareness of the rapidly changing context. Recently "Look4ward - Build Your Future" was awarded in Washington D.C. (USA) as "Champions in Education" by the Italian Design Week platform.

In front of more than 700 university and secondary school students, experts, professionals, university lecturers, entrepreneurs and start-ups took turns to discuss the role of new technologies and the importance of soft skills in their experience in order to successfully cope with the ongoing changes.

During the meeting, students were continuously involved through interactive moments on the impact that transformational trends will have on society. Elisa Zambito Marsala, Head of Education Ecosystem and Global Value Programs Intesa Sanpaolo, commented: "Intesa Sanpaolo is meeting many students throughout Italy to help them understand the major transformations taking place in the economy and society. Today, together with the University of Genoa and One Ocean Foundation, we are talking above all about the blue economy, one of the sectors with the greatest opportunities for growth in our country. A greater awareness of the skills needed to cope with change helps us to become more 'resilient' with respect to an ever-changing professions market. This initiative is part of the broader commitment of Intesa Sanpaolo, which has always paid great attention to training young people, developing transversal skills, supporting research and the internationalisation of schools and universities".

"Intesa Sanpaolo's initiative is perfectly in line with the commitment our university has been making over the past few years in the field of both incoming and outgoing guidance,' stressed Federico Delfino, Rector of the University of Genoa. 'We believe, in fact, that identifying the right university course for one's needs from the outset is just as fundamental for future generations as understanding the dynamics of work on the eve of graduation. The rapid evolution of society and the economy with the pervasiveness of technology impose a change of pace in the approach to even the most traditional subjects on the part of both students and teachers. Soft skills and trans-disciplinarity are skills that are now necessary to be competitive and competent, and therefore attractive, for the labour market where, alongside the usual professions, new figures are appearing that as a university we are obliged to get to know and make known also through meetings such as today's, which provide the opportunity for an enriching confrontation between school, academia and the financial world".