ITI G. Marconi Dalmine, a state secondary school in Dalmine, Italy, is renowned for its unique approach to secondary education, blending technical expertise with innovative learning methodologies to address local economic demands and foster a diverse, skilled workforce. Founded in the mid-seventies, the school has become a bastion for students interested in electronics, electrotechnics, computer science, and more, boasting a high employability rate post-graduation.
Situated in a region with over 1,100 small enterprises, ITI G. Marconi Dalmine embraces the challenge of preparing students from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, including immigrants and students with special needs, for the workforce and higher education.
Central to the school's mission is fostering entrepreneurship and STEM capabilities. Initiatives like the #IDEASFORFUTURE Hackathon encourage students to collaborate in diverse teams, tackling real-world problems presented by leading corporations using design thinking principles. This annual event culminates in the Marconi Day festival, showcasing student ingenuity and attracting thousands of attendees, including industry leaders.
The school tracks and measures the long-term success of its graduates through tools like "Edu Scorpio" and "Alma Diploma", which provide insights into employment status and sectors. Notably, many graduates venture into entrepreneurship, with several founding successful startups. Last year, 180 companies participated in the school's Career Day, highlighting the high demand for its students.
Partnerships with universities and business incubators enrich the educational experience. Collaborations with Higher Technical Institutes (ITS) provide specialised programmes in economics, mechanical engineering, and IT. The school's startup incubator has resulted in over 250 projects, including patented innovations like a bladeless drone and an RFID system for non-verbal communication.
Should ITI G. Marconi Dalmine win the World's Best School Prize for Innovation, it plans to establish a business hub to enhance entrepreneurial education, focusing on inclusivity and addressing gender imbalances in technical fields.
