ISIS Europa

ISIS Europa, a government secondary school in Pomigliano d'Arco, Naples, Italy, is forging a new path for its disadvantaged students and community by adopting innovative approaches to education and providing the digital skills needed to succeed in today's job market. With a dropout rate that has plummeted from over 20% to near zero, and with 90% of graduates securing employment, this school's approach to education is not just changing lives, it's creating a blueprint for success and integration and it’s fighting ignorance, camorra and all criminal organisations by using the leverage of culture.

ISIS Europa stands in an economically disadvantaged community, where people tend to have little hope in their prospects and a great deal of distrust in public institutions. The school recognised this challenge and developed, among others, the Europa Community Service project to address it, based on a Service Learning didactic approach. The most important programme - the very first in Italy of this kind - has focused on the creation of the new Web Community Professional Commercial Services address, allowing - since 2011 - thousands of students to gain practical experience in creating websites, web apps, and Metaverse apps. In 2016, this programme was adopted by the Italian Education Ministry, making it suitable for all Italian Vocational schools.

This experiential and practical learning approach has contributed to the development of critical thinking, peer learning, and digital communication skills among students. The school also encourages and fosters innovative teaching methods, and is constantly updating its technological equipment and promoting investment in space and technology.

Additionally, the school encourages its students to take part in projects and competitions, which has helped promote integration with other institutions, all over the world. To further develop students’ professional, ethical and personal competencies, the school has developed many websites for the local municipality and for the entire Italian school community, such as “La Memoria rende Liberi www.lamemoriarendeliberi.it” - “Memory makes us Free www.memorymakesusfree.org” about the Holocaust, and metaverse apps like “Isola della Memoria www.isoladellamemoria.it” e “Museo dell’Errore - www.museodellerrore.it. This commitment to promoting educational inclusion, innovation, and ethical and social values has resulted in high levels of student engagement and success.

If ISIS Europa wins the World's Best School Prize for Innovation, it intends to create a web-based educational Metaverse portal that offers new educational activities, not only for students but also for the wider community. Their objective is to bridge the digital divide, promote an entrepreneurial culture, and revitalise local traditions. The prize will be used to design, develop, organise, and manage the Metaverse environment and courses while promoting the entire training and dissemination initiative. Their ultimate goal is to create, promote, and spread culture, using digital and immersive worlds.