COLOURS | Report on the Educational Workshop on Giftedness and EDI Policie
Participants during the event
On December 5th and 6th, the Student Entrepreneurship Centre (SEC) at Laboratorio Aperto (Ex-Teatro Verdi) hosted an educational event focused on giftedness and Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) policies. This workshop gave students an opportunity to delve into the concept of giftedness and its role in inclusive settings.
The workshop had two primary objectives: 1) to introduce participants to Design Thinking, a structured approach for problem-solving and innovation, and to foster collaboration among participants within a European university alliance on the theme of EDI. 2) Insights from participants will contribute to developing a continental dialogue and action plan on EDI.
Led by Prof. Tamara Zappaterra, researcher and expert Paola Tinarelli, and EDI officer Elena Mazzoni, the workshop guided participants in implementing Applied Design Thinking (ADT), a globally recognized approach developed at Stanford University. ADT is an iterative, user-centric process that encourages understanding the user, challenging traditional assumptions, and redefining problems to identify alternative strategies and solutions. This approach fosters creativity and innovation by encouraging stakeholders to think outside the box and explore new ideas.
Design Thinking emphasizes problem-solving and finding viable solutions, significantly reducing the time spent on design and development. Its user-centric approach boosts engagement and is more likely to produce feasible solutions.
The COLOURS alliance received overwhelmingly positive feedback. Participants noted that the two-day event provided an opportunity to discuss and solve meaningful issues, broaden perspectives, and foster friendships and bonding.
The COLOURS alliance is committed to organizing more high-quality, inclusive projects, including additional micro-credential courses, workshops, student exchanges, and conferences. These activities aim to offer students beneficial and engaging experiences to enrich their knowledge and essential skills for future work, while also providing opportunities to make friends and have fun. Stay tuned to the COLOURS website and our social networks to ensure you don't miss out on these exciting opportunities!