Escola Europea Finalises first Sicily Port Academy Course with Promising Outcomes
The inaugural course of the Sicily Port Academy, organised by the Escola Europea, the European centre of excellence for logistics and intermodal transport training, concluded yesterday in Palermo. The course saw the participation of more than fifty students from ITS InfoMob Palermo and the University of Palermo’s Transportation Engineering degree programme.
Lupi: “An important achievement just a few months after our entry into the Escola Europea. An opportunity for education and employment.”
Over the course of two days, a series of visits, meetings, and lessons were conducted, all with the overarching goal of fulfilling the course’s objectives. These objectives included equipping high school, ITS Academy, and university students with the essential knowledge required to comprehend the Palermo community, its infrastructure, logistics facilities, and port operations. Additionally, the course aimed to facilitate companies in the sector, through collaborative associations, in showcasing the distinctive aspects of their work and the professional profiles in need of development. Furthermore, it sought to encourage these companies to engage students through internships and school-work programmes.
Rodés: “The beginning of a series of activities for the development of the logistics-port community.”
Eduard Rodés, Director of the Escola Europea, expressed his enthusiasm, saying, “We are thrilled to be in collaboration with the Port of Palermo, our recent partner, to share our knowledge and expertise for the purpose of contributing to the sustainable development of port logistics in this region. Initiating a course in Palermo represents a new and significant chapter in the history of the Escola Europea. This achievement is the result of the tireless efforts and dedication of numerous individuals, under the leadership of President Pasqualino Monti, with invaluable contributions from Luca Lupi, numerous other port operators, and, naturally, the Escola Europea team led by Country Manager Italy – Marco Muci and Alessia Mastromattei. For us, this marks the inception of a series of initiatives aimed at fostering the harmonious growth of a more well-prepared and unified logistics-port community.”
Luca Lupi, the Secretary General of the Western Sicily Sea Port Authority (AdSP), expressed his satisfaction, stating, “I am delighted with this remarkable achievement. The course garnered significant interest from participants and was organized shortly after our association with the Escola Europea. I extend my gratitude to Mayor of Palermo, Roberto Lagalla, and Giuseppe Pierro, the Director General of the Regional School Office for Sicily, who wholeheartedly embraced the project’s objectives. This endeavour presents a substantial opportunity for educational and employment growth within the city, particularly in the strategically vital logistics-port sector. Furthermore, I am delighted to announce the upcoming launch of the first navigation course departing from the Port of Palermo and concluding in Genoa. This initiative, also in collaboration with the Escola Europea, is scheduled to commence in the spring of 2024.
The successful completion of the Sicily Port Academy’s inaugural course marks an exciting chapter in the Escola Europea’s journey, showcasing its commitment to fostering collaboration and education in the Italian port and logistics sector. With the Port of Palermo as its newest partner, the Escola Europea is poised to further expand its footprint in Italy. As the institution continues to introduce new courses and projects, we can anticipate a bright future of sustainable development and increased opportunities for students, professionals, and the logistics-port community in this vibrant region.
