by InTrieste
In a moment of increasing pressure on Italy’s education system, the University of Trieste has been named a key player in the national initiative “I Lincei for a New Approach to Teaching in Schools,” a project aimed at revitalizing the way core subjects are taught in schools across the country. Now in its sixth year, the initiative focuses on equipping primary and secondary school teachers with new methodologies in four key areas: Italian, mathematics, digital studies, and the sciences.
Trieste’s involvement in the project, which is part of a broader national network, is supported by the “I Lincei for Schools” Foundation, as well as the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional School Office and regional government. To date, more than 1,000 teachers from across Italy have participated.
“In a time of great complexity for the Italian university and school systems, the University of Trieste’s role in supporting teacher development is of strategic importance,” said Roberto Di Lenarda, the university’s rector. He emphasized that the regional government’s ongoing support for the project has allowed the university to maintain its leadership in teacher training.
The initiative, which is backed by the prestigious Accademia dei Lincei, Italy’s oldest scientific academy, and the Ministries of Education and University Research, aims to modernize teaching methods in both the sciences and the humanities. It is seen as crucial for improving the quality of education in Italy, where the school system faces growing challenges from changing societal demands and the need for greater digital literacy.
“The presence of the Lincei project in Trieste is a tremendous opportunity for the school system in Friuli Venezia Giulia,” said Alessia Rosolen, the region’s Councillor for Education, Labor, and Universities. Rosolen pointed to the success of the region’s education system, which boasts one of Italy’s lowest school dropout rates according to recent Invalsi test results. “This project is certainly one of the reasons why,” she added.
The initiative is structured around several academic disciplines, each led by experts from the University of Trieste. The Italian program, coordinated by Professor Tiziana Piras, will focus on innovative ways to teach Italian literature. The mathematics module, led by Professors Emilia Mezzetti, Fabio Perroni, and Daniele Zuddas, will offer interdisciplinary tools to help teachers develop models for describing both natural and social phenomena.
A particularly cutting-edge component of the project is its digital studies track, which addresses data analysis, digital security, and artificial intelligence, applying these areas to modern educational challenges. This module is designed to help teachers prepare students for a world in which technology plays an increasingly central role.
The science program, under the leadership of Professor Francesco Princivalle, will focus on environmental systems, with an emphasis on the complex ecosystems of coastal areas—a critical topic for the region, given its location on the Adriatic Sea. Professors Silvia Marchesan, Sabrina Pacor, Giorgio Pastore, and Michele Stoppa will also contribute to this program.
The University of Trieste’s involvement in this project extends across five departments: Mathematics and Geosciences, Physics, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Life Sciences, and Humanities, underscoring the university’s commitment to interdisciplinary approaches in education.
“Continual professional development for teachers is key to ensuring high-quality education,” said Daniela Beltrame, Director of the Regional School Office of Friuli Venezia Giulia. “This project is not just an opportunity for individual growth but for the entire school system.”
With Italy’s educational landscape in flux, programs like “I Lincei for a New Approach to Teaching in Schools” represent more than just curriculum updates—they are investments in the future of the country’s youth. And as the 2024/2025 academic year unfolds, the University of Trieste’s leadership in this initiative promises to leave a lasting impact on classrooms across Italy.
Interview: Alessia Rosolen, the region’s Councillor for Education, Labor, and Universities
