Stem graduates, how to get on the innovation rocket from the first year of study
In Italy, university drop-outs in STEM stems from lack of opportunities and mentoring, not poor preparation
by Francesco Capponi *
3' min read
3' min read
In Italy, 58.6% of young people enrol in a three-year course, but only half (~47%) of those enrolled graduate. The dropout rate is not due to poor preparation: there is a lack of orientation tools, mentoring, research opportunities and structured internships right from the three-year course that would act as a clear bridge to the fastest growing global technology sectors and justify the efforts put into the university course.
The (true) story that explains the paradox
Nicolas Di Leo now works between Europe and Harvard on drugs that can slow down ageing. After finishing high school in the Marche region, with low grades and deferments, he saw no significant trajectories for himself: he did seasonal work. After three years he enrolled in Biology to become a nutritionist. However, it is not 'university' in the abstract that unlocks him: he actively seeks out opportunities, wins four Erasmus, enters international laboratories and networks. He realises that those ambitions are not 'for others' and in a few years he changes everything and dedicates himself to research with global impact.
How to rekindle your imagination and get on a rocket
.In Italy, for a motivated STEM student, the standard path is: triennale + magistrale, a few years of technical work and then (perhaps) commercial/management. It is a respectable trajectory, but it does not ignite the imagination of those who invest 5-8 years of their lives in studying.
In international contexts, the bar of ambition is set right from the first year of a three-year degree. They tell you, in the next five years you could:
- "Getting on a rocket" (joining a hyper-growth company).
