LUISS Guido Carli offers a range of training opportunities to all students enrolled in the 2018–2019 academic year. These opportunities are designed to help second-year Master’s students in the Departments of Business and Management, Economics and Finance, and Political Science, as well as fifth-year students in the Department of Law, refine the skills they’ve acquired during their studies and prepare for the world of work.
All courses feature a practical, experiential approach that aims to “train” students on individual topics, with theory playing a minor role.
Through classroom games, group work, and both group and individual presentations, each student will be able to experiment while having fun and learning at the same time.

The courses offered for the 2018–2019 academic year are:

• Problem Solving Lab
• Cross-Cultural Skills
• English Tricks Lab
• Leadership Experience

Course I – Problem Solving Lab

• Course duration: 16 hours, divided into 4 modules of 4 hours each.
• Attendance: The course must be attended in full.

The course, taught in English, aims to equip students with a range of tools that can be used individually or in combination to systematically solve problems that require creativity.

Participants will be “challenged” to think “outside the box” through individual and group exercises.

First module 

Topics

• The role of creativity in innovation and business.
• Brainstorming Techniques
• Defining the value equation for a product or service

Even the youngest among us are “stuck” in mental models: knowledge, values, culture, society, and context.

Being creative often means breaking free from these constraints, and you can't do that unless you're aware of them.

We begin with exercises to become aware of our own limits, then move on to “gamestorming” techniques that use play to spark creativity and innovation.

We conclude with a definition and a series of exercises on the value equation, which is a highly effective way to define a product or service and identify areas for improvement.

Second module

Topics

• Resources
• The 9 windows
• Elements of Design Thinking

This session begins by challenging the deeply ingrained idea that resources are scarce, demonstrating how, in reality, they are simply not visible.

We then move on to a three-pronged technique that allows us to explore a problem, product, or situation along both the temporal and systemic axes.

We conclude by discussing the fundamentals of the “design thinking” approach that companies like Apple, Samsung, Alessi, and Ideo regularly use to develop successful products.

Third module

Topics

• Polarity and problems
• Product DNA
• Analogies between domains

A problem isn't always a problem. In fact, in many cases, it's a polarity—meaning a situation that doesn't have a single and/or best solution, but rather several alternative and complementary solutions.

Each product or service has its own unique DNA, shaped by its features and functions. Looking at other sectors that fulfill the same functions in different ways can be a source of inspiration.

Fourth module

Topics

• Properties
• Functions
• Variations

We begin by categorizing the properties of a product or service.

We analyze the functions these properties perform, but we break the one-to-one relationship that has often been artificially constructed in our imagination.

The session concludes with a combinatorial exercise involving properties to transform and enhance the functionality of a product or service.

Course II – Cross-Cultural Skills

• Course duration: 16 hours, divided into 4 lessons of 4 hours each
• Attendance: The course must be attended in full.

The course will be conducted in English to introduce students to how cultural diversity directly impacts behaviors, perceptions, lifestyles, communication styles, and reactions.

In an increasingly global world, it’s essential to develop knowledge and sensitivity when approaching people from different cultures and ethnic backgrounds. This helps break down barriers and instantly build relationships that are satisfying and clear for everyone involved.

Course III – English Tricks Lab

• Course duration: 20 hours, divided into 10 lessons of 2 hours each
• Attendance: The course must be attended in full.

The course aims to maximize the language skills students have acquired throughout their studies by providing them with tools and “tricks” to help demonstrate linguistic proficiency, especially in high-pressure situations like job interviews or public presentations.

The instructor will continuously engage students, allowing them to refine their vocabulary and master more elegant and context-appropriate syntactic constructions through a dynamic and interactive approach.

To fully benefit from the course and form a cohesive group, a minimum English level of C1/B4 is required. There is no need to submit any certificates; however, the instructor may assess each student’s actual language proficiency in class.

Course IV – Leadership Experience

• Course duration: 24 hours, divided into 4 modules of 6 hours each
• Attendance: The course must be attended in full.

The course aims to explore the growing emphasis on this cross-cutting skill in the international arena, addressing the need to cultivate the traits of mindful leadership in the younger generation, both for oneself and for others. A fundamental prerequisite for leadership is self-awareness—understanding one's limits and strengths—along with the ability to connect with others, inspire their behavior and actions, and take responsibility for change.

Art will serve as a practical tool, allowing students to experience the four key moments of leadership in an immersive and engaging way, and to act on them firsthand.

For each key moment, an artistic expression has been chosen to serve as a metaphor and the main focus of the training day:

1. Step Out through cinema: During this phase, students will create a video that tells the story of their identity.
2. Look Forward through photography: Students will use this medium to express their vision. 
3. Connect through music and dance: using the rhythm and movement of their bodies, students will discover how to connect with others. 
4. Delivery through painting: Using hands and colors, participants will explore relationships with others, experimenting with how to collaborate and create together.

• Students can choose to enroll in one or more courses, making sure the class schedule fits their commitments.

Click here to view the calendar

• Each course will be activated provided a minimum of 15 participants is reached.

• There is a maximum number of participants for all courses, and the selection is based solely on a first-come, first-served basis.

• All courses will be held at one of the LUISS campuses.

• Attending the courses will NOT result in the recognition of Educational Credits for Other Activities.

Only students enrolled in the 2018-2019 academic year in the second year of a Master’s degree program in the Departments of Business and Management, Economics and Finance, or Political Science, or in the fifth year of the Department of Law, will be eligible to register. If students enroll without meeting the above requirements, their enrollment will be automatically canceled.

Registration has been extended until February 5, 2019.

Registration will not be possible outside the specified period. Since there is a maximum number of participants for each course, you won't be able to register once all available spots are filled.

To join, simply click here to access the registration section and select the course(s) you wish to attend.

Alternatively, you can log in to the University platform using your LUISS email credentials (username: nome.cognome@studenti.luiss.it) and click on: Soft Skills > Soft Skills without CFU > Academic Year 2018-2019  > Exit Tools 2019 >  Exit Tools 2019 Registration . 

For any further information, please send an email to exitools@luiss.it.