The future of energy, telcos & networks

The xLab “The future of . energy, telcos and networks” aims to make students acquainted with alternative solutions to develop sustainable buildings and neighborhoods from the social, environmental, and economic point of view, such as the energy communities. During this laboratory, the participants can acquire legal, social and economic competences in relation to the energy sector. Students will learn through the use of practical examples and theoretical model, how energy solutions can be declined in forms of smart solutions for the house and as “smart communities” able to activate experimental alternatives and turn the neighborhood into a living lab. The laboratory will be conducted through co-designed sessions in which students apply their ideas to real projects, thanks to design thinking skills.

The 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.

No specific knowledge is required digital innovation and the concept of sustainability. By basic knowledge, it is meant the understanding of the notions obtained during the master.

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. Introduction to the course and working tools In the first phase, shared for all the rest of the xLabs, the different labs are presented indicating their characteristics and points in common. In this first phase, partner companies will be able to present themselves with short inspirational speeches and to launch the workshops. Furthermore, in these sessions, students begin to familiarize with the main theoretical elements of the course (for example, design thinking) and the co-design tools that are used. In the second part of the course, 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. In the third part, the co-design activities begin, in which the students work in groups together with company experts. The company, having the right to "challenge", will describe the objectives of the process to the students. The purpose of these sessions is to activate a co-design process through the recreation of the innovation ecosystem, which support the involvement of local communities in the production, consumption of energy. The first phase of co-design focus on the analysis of problems and the development of the design idea in response to the identified needs. In the fourth part, students have a moment of confrontation across all xLabs. This moment allows students to present their progress and to receive feedback from other professors, students, and experts as well. This moment gives the opportunity to students to practice their public speaking and synthesis skills. To facilitate and structure the discussion, a well-defined discussion format will be developed, which follows the methods of start-ups and innovative ideas contest, with defined timing, methods, and evaluation grids. In the fifth part, students work on finalizing their ideas, thanks also to the feedback received in the previous session. The goal is to refine their proposals, supporting it with scientific data and reports. In the second phase, the co-design defines in greater detail the actors, the form of governance and the added value of the idea. At the end of this last co-design session, the design idea has to be transformed into a complete Proof of Concept that can be presented to possible investors and external partners. In the last session, the final projects are presented to a "jury" who evaluate their feasibility and the coherency of their social, economic, and environmental impacts. This final session will involve various experts, funders, authorities, incubators, and academic representatives. This session also follows the predefined schemes already tested in the intermediate session. The goal is to amplify the work done by the students and allow them to have visibility to continue the project even after the end of the xLab

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 course is developed on two main teaching methods. The lessons take place in part in a frontal way, especially in the first phase, in which the main theories and methodologies will be explained. In the second phase, students learn by applying these 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.

Yes