ACADEMY SYMPOSIUM: THE "LEARNING BY DOING" SCHOOL COMES TO ITALY

A particularly significant statistic confirms this: 95% of graduates find employment in their field of study within a month of completing the two-year course.

Accademia Symposium is located in a former Franciscan convent dating back to the 1500s, restored and transformed into a campus, in Rodengo Saiano (BS). The educational offering includes both four-year secondary school programs and post-diploma advanced training programs (ITS). This model goes beyond simply imparting knowledge, but also guides students on a path of personal and professional growth, with attentive mentoring and ongoing dialogue with companies.

ITS programs last two years and consist of a total of 2,000 hours: 1,000 hours of lessons with professionals and university professors and 1,000 hours of internships in companies. This is the heart of the learning-by-doing method: learning by doing, immediately putting into practice what is learned in the classroom, in laboratories, during educational visits, and in seminars. The programs are co-designed with consortia, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals to meet the real needs of businesses and anticipate the skills required by the market.

Alongside technical skills, the Academy devotes ample space to soft skills: reliability, punctuality, teamwork, problem-solving, public speaking, personal branding, and the ability to address mistakes as part of the learning process. The goal is to train professionals capable of being operational from day one, rather than being reduced to mere executors: young people with bright minds, capable of understanding problems, seeking solutions, and integrating confidently into the corporate culture.

The classes, limited in number and with a personalized approach, attract students from all over Italy. The ITS program currently comprises five majors: Wine Marketing and Tourism, Sustainable Oenology and Viticulture, Food Quality Management, Livestock Systems and Agri-food Processing, and Precision Farming & Agritech. In all programs, internships, specialized workshops, certifications, technical licenses, and international experience contribute to making the training immediately applicable.

The Wine Marketing and Tourism program trains professionals capable of connecting the world of wine with marketing, hospitality, and the promotion of local areas. Students explore topics such as viticulture and oenology, regulations, an introduction to marketing, digital marketing, sales management, wine tourism, Italian and international enography and tasting, soft skills, self-entrepreneurship, and Business English. The two-year program also includes experiences abroad, Erasmus programs, language courses, and a strong international focus. Accademia Symposium is also a certified Veni Vidi Vini WSET program, a further tool for expanding career opportunities in the wine industry.

The Sustainable Enology and Viticulture program was created to specialize students in production and processing processes in the vineyard and winery. Sustainability is approached as a strategic choice based on three inseparable dimensions: environmental, social, and economic. Subjects range from agronomy to viticulture, from the management of technical resources in the vineyard to mechanics, robotics, and sensors, from vineyard management control software to oenological engineering, from chemistry and microbiology to technical tasting, and even marketing, communication, and technical English applied to wine.

Ample space is given to hands-on experience: lessons in the microvinification laboratory and experimental winery in Erbusco (BS), held with the Franciacorta Consortium in spaces provided by Istituto Oeno Italia, allow students to follow all the stages of winemaking, right up to the production of their own bottle. The program also includes a tractor license, forklift license, phytosanitary license, Geofolia software certification, safety certification, and green and dry pruning certificates.

The international dimension is another key element. Foreign languages, experiences abroad, study trips, Erasmus projects, and exposure to best practices from other countries help students compete in global markets without losing their connection to the region. The idea is to enhance Franciacorta's local identity while learning to interact with businesses, importers, and professionals from around the world.

Digitalization is becoming a key management and decision-making tool: industry software, agritech, sensors, satellite data, market analysis, and digital communication tools help future technicians and managers integrate field expertise and strategic skills. Technology doesn't replace human experience, but rather enhances it, making decisions in the vineyard, the cellar, and throughout business management more informed.

In addition to its advanced training program, the Symposium Academy also offers four-year secondary school programs in Food and Wine, Hospitality, and Agriculture and Rural Development Services. This program confirms the Academy's mission: building solid careers through training, hands-on experience, networking, and ongoing relationships with the business world.