X-LAB THE FUTURE OF ENERGY, NETWORKS & MANUFACTURING

The lab's ambitious goal is to support students in creating a scientific project that thoughtfully integrates aspects of sustainability, ethics and inclusiveness, issues that are increasingly central in the global business environment.

No specific knowledge is required. By basic knowledge of the concept of digital innovation and the concept of sustainability it is meant the understanding of the notions obtained during the master, and application of that knowledge through passion for technological innovation, environmental sustainability and entrepreneurial spirit.

he xLab is conducted through co-design sessions in which students work together, learn how to develop new innovative solutions and test their final projects’ ideas. In this way, the participants can develop new skills useful for their future working careers, while they improve their ability to design solutions that look at the innovative technologies and guarantee the sustainability of their proposals, also for real life cases. Knowledge and comprehension This course provides students with sufficient knowledge to understand the legal framework that support the development of an energy solutions. Students learn how to decline the development of specific ides based on the evaluation of the territorial needs, providing solution that can be suitable according to the local circumstances. Moreover, the lab teaches to the participants how to structure a project, its economic sustainability, how to carry on a stakeholder mapping, and develop feasible proposals. Applying knowledge and understanding The knowledge acquired during the course aims to provide students with the skills to write a project in the topic of the energy sector. Students will learn how to balance innovative solutions and feasibility, learning how to make it sustainable and feasible. By the end of the lab, all the participants should be able to write a project concept note in autonomy. Making judgements By the end of the laboratory, students are capable to evaluate the requirements for the developments of an innovative project in the field of energy and to understand the benefits that it can generates for the territory and its inhabitants. They are able to evaluate the needed technologies to make it sustainable and to value the emerging technologies for the creation of social impacts. Moreover, participants learn how to interact with experts and how to present proposals to their project’ partners. Communication skills Beside the understanding of the value that an energy solutions can produce for the entire neighborhoods and its development through a project, students learn also to present their ideas to external stakeholder and to communicate effectively their proposals through the use of an appropriate terminology and visual presentations. Learning skills The overall lab.’ objective is to teach students how to develop an innovative project thanks the collaboration of different stakeholders. They are now able to ground their ideas into legal, economic, and social understanding deriving from data and sectorial considerations. They learn how “to sell” their idea though effective communication presentation and public speaking skills, all knowledge that are useful for their future careers.

Together with the rest of the specialization courses, the laboratory aims to form students for the professional career. Using co-design sessions, students will have to address a “challenge” launched by the company partner in charge for this laboratory. The final aim is to develop a project that can address a real need in the society in collaboration with partner and the other stakeholder. Each group is introduced to interactive and collaborative lectures. In this phase, students explore in detail the economic, social and technological characteristics of the specific sector and its main theoretical notions. In these sessions, students interact with partner organizations, gaining important insights from their experiences and analyze best practices.

The width of the topics and their practical implications makes it difficult to refer to a specific textbook. Reading materials, handouts, and slides, referring to a given lesson, are made available to students in advance.

The lessons take place in a frontal way. Students learn by applying notions in a co-design process, in a collaborative way. Based on this combination of practical and theoretical teaching approaches, students can develop project development skills, deepen their knowledge of the sector and of innovative solutions. Then students are asked to actively participate in each session and apply what they have learned in class to the project.

Learning will be assessed through class participation and contribution to groups ‘activities. Students will then be asked for an individual written contribution to the project, which will be assessed based on the quality and adherence to the work done in the lectures.

The overall lab.’ objective is to teach students how to develop an innovative project thanks the collaboration of different stakeholders. They are now able to ground their ideas into legal, economic, and social understanding deriving from data and sectorial considerations. They learn how “to sell” their idea though effective communication presentation and public speaking skills, all knowledge that are useful for their future careers.