Skills to Shape the Future
The major transformations of our time—from climate change to the energy transition, from artificial intelligence to global health, and from sustainable mobility to social inclusion—require professionals who can understand their complexity, integrate different areas of expertise, and design innovative solutions responsibly.
The Global Challenges catalogue offers an interdisciplinary learning pathway that complements traditional courses with classes devoted to analysing the major challenges facing contemporary society. Its aim is to educate graduates who are capable not only of developing new technologies, but also of understanding their economic, social, environmental, cultural and ethical impacts, thereby contributing to the creation of a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.
Beyond Disciplinary Boundaries
The major challenges of our time cannot be addressed from the perspective of a single discipline. The Global Challenges catalogue promotes ongoing dialogue between Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and the humanities and social sciences, providing students with a systemic perspective on technological, economic, environmental and social transformations.
Each course addresses real-world problems through interdisciplinary methodologies, helping students connect technical, economic, legal, social and humanistic knowledge in order to understand complex phenomena and design innovative, responsible and sustainable solutions. The teaching approach also fosters critical thinking, analytical skills and collaboration across different areas of expertise—all of which are essential for addressing emerging challenges.
A Dedicated Course Catalogue
The catalogue includes 27 courses focusing on the major global challenges of our century. It comprises 19 courses taught in Italian and 8 taught in English, enabling students to build an interdisciplinary learning pathway with a strong international dimension.
The courses are organised around the main areas shaping the transformations of contemporary society:
- Climate and Environment
- Social Equity and Inclusion
- Mobility and Transport
- Health
- Society and Politics
- Digital Transformation
- Energy
Each course focuses on one of these thematic areas, giving students the opportunity to explore complex issues from multidisciplinary perspectives and develop the skills required to design innovative and sustainable solutions geared towards the common good.
The Global Challenges catalogue also has a strong international outlook. Each year, the programme opens with a keynote lecture delivered in English, focusing on a topic of particular global relevance and given by an internationally renowned expert.
The 8 courses taught in English also give students the opportunity to engage with cutting-edge topics in an international environment, developing the language and intercultural skills that are becoming increasingly important in both academic and professional contexts.
Learning through Experience
The courses adopt innovative teaching methods that place students at the centre of the learning process, encouraging active participation and engagement.
Learning activities include:
- interdisciplinary project work;
- teamwork;
- case-study analysis;
problem-solving applied to real-world challenges;
- interaction between scientific, technological, economic, social and humanistic perspectives.
This approach enables students to experience first-hand how different disciplines can work together and to develop the design, decision-making and interpersonal skills required to operate in highly complex and constantly changing environments.
Skills for Responsible Innovation
By attending courses from the Global Challenges catalogue, students develop skills that are increasingly sought after in the worlds of work, research and public institutions.
In particular, they learn to:
- analyse complex problems from a systemic and multidisciplinary perspective;
- integrate knowledge from STEM disciplines, the humanities and the social sciences;
- design innovative solutions while assessing their technological, economic, environmental, social and ethical impacts;
- collaborate effectively in multidisciplinary teams;
- develop critical thinking, independent judgement and a sense of responsibility;
- address new and uncertain situations with adaptability;
- communicate effectively with people from different disciplinary backgrounds.
The programme also contributes to the development of essential transferable skills, including problem-solving, systems thinking, collaboration, the ability to integrate different perspectives, and a commitment to responsible innovation.
Recognition of Skills
Successfully completing courses from the catalogue allows students to earn the open badge “Global Challenges: Multidisciplinary Skills for Emerging Challenges”, which certifies the skills they have acquired.
The badge recognises the ability to:
- understand complex problems through an interdisciplinary approach;
- integrate STEM, humanistic and social-science knowledge and methodologies;
- design sustainable and innovative solutions;
- assess the impacts of technology on society, the environment and people;
- work in multidisciplinary teams with responsibility, autonomy and a collaborative mindset.
These skills are increasingly valued in the worlds of work and research, as they enable people to address emerging challenges through a systemic and critical perspective geared towards the common good.