Just as “beauty unites people,” the convergence of knowledge creates new skills. This is how Luiss Guido Carli interprets the 2020 World Expo in Dubai, which kicks off on October 1st. The university is bringing two highly immersive technological applications to the Italian Pavilion. The program, developed in collaboration with Intesa Sanpaolo, centers on the university’s new English-language courses and the theme of leadership. The skills that are typical of Italian tradition and ingenuity, combined with the three “I’s” of the Luiss model—Internationalization, Interdisciplinarity, and Innovation—will provide insights into the toolkit students will need as they consider their university and postgraduate options.

Luiss and Intesa Sanpaolo will take center stage in the Italian Pavilion with two projects: “Leading an Orchestra” and “Hologram Talks.” The first, Leading an Orchestra, will give visitors the chance to conduct the renowned Orchestra of the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, performing the most celebrated pieces that have shaped the history of music (“La Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Guillaume Tell” by Gioachino Rossini, “La Primavera” by Antonio Vivaldi, and “Il Don Pasquale” by Gaetano Donizetti). Each performance will be introduced by a video message from Maestro Antonio Pappano, who will provide guidance on the most effective gestures and behaviors for leading an orchestra. By conducting, coordinating, and keeping over 100 musicians in sync, users will receive an assessment of their leadership skills at the end of the experience.

The Hologram Talks, on the other hand, will use a 3D holographic telepresence system to virtually teleport speakers and professors from the university to the Italian Pavilion, aiming to pique visitors’ curiosity.

The holographic projection and the use of a 1:1 three-dimensional reproduction scale will, in fact, allow visitors to experience a live show that’s full of emotion. The speeches, featuring university faculty and students, managers, entrepreneurs, and figures from the creative and cultural worlds, will be part of a program aligned with the themes of the Italian Pavilion.

The videos will also be accessible through the Luiss@Expo app, available in all digital stores. The app will therefore allow users to explore the university’s English-language educational offerings and stay up to date on scheduled live talks.

Vice President Paola Severino and Rector Andrea Prencipe will present the Luiss projects on Saturday, October 2 (at 4:00 PM Dubai time and 2:00 PM Italian time) as part of the event “Gran Tour - Luiss University presents Leading an Orchestra.”

“We're proud to be part of this Expo with Leading an Orchestra, a project that blends innovation with tradition. With this app, created in partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo, we’re also bringing Maestro Antonio Pappano’s contribution to the Italian Pavilion. He will remind visitors how crucial it is for a conductor to possess leadership skills, in addition to the artistic talents needed for this role. We took the same approach when designing one of our top master’s programs, the Master’s in Music and Management, which combines management disciplines with the world of art,” said Paola Severino, Vice President of Luiss.

“Luiss’s presence at the Dubai Expo aligns with our university’s international focus, and we’ll showcase our educational offerings through holograms and a dedicated app. Students visiting the Italian Pavilion will be able to follow our faculty's presentations through an innovative and highly impactful solution that will immerse them in our university's educational model. I am also convinced that this World Expo will be an extraordinary event that will stimulate our minds and prompt us to reflect on major global issues with a confident outlook toward the future,” added Rector Andrea Prencipe.