This is the school of the future
The new campus of ICS Milan International School officially opens its doors, welcoming children and students aged 2 to 18. Innovative in both its structure and educational offering, it is based on experiential learning, which allows students to develop problem-solving skills along with critical and creative thinking.
It was a heated debate, but in the end, the die was cast: elementary and middle schools resume on Thursday, January 7, while high schools mostly return to the classroom on Monday, January 11. "Mostly," because the situation is not the same across all Regions: in Friuli, Veneto, and Marche, for example, distance learning continues at least until the end of the month.
But in Milan, almost as a symbol of a possible new future, the brand-new ICS Symbiosis makes its debut for the reopening: a futuristic school that spans from nursery school to high school.
Ten thousand square meters, designed by the Barreca & La Varra architecture firm (authors of the award-winning Bosco Verticale), were built by listening to the students who, when asked "How do you imagine your ideal school?", expressed a desire for a vibrant and creative space—a place to meet and experiment even after the school bell rings.
And so this campus arose, complete with a semi-Olympic indoor swimming pool (25 meters) and a multifunctional playing field. "A place rich in cultural stimuli, where ideas are born and developed, and where future talents grow. From kindergarten to primary, from secondary to high school: toddlers, children, teenagers, and young adults will inhabit these rooms together, each bringing their own background and experience to share. The Symbiosis Campus is a place where we want to generate new ideas through generational exchange, where one grows through the knowledge of art and beauty, learning first to love and then to build one's own future. To do. Without fear of making mistakes," explains Stefano Paschina, Managing Director of ICS Milan International School, describing this visionary journey.
The idea is to propose an educational system that is increasingly in step with the times: the ICS method is based on experiential learning, which allows students to develop problem-solving abilities and critical and creative thinking. Starting from the foundations of the STEAM educational framework (a teaching method that integrates Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics), teachers integrate experimental programs and projects for each of the five disciplines through truly special partnerships. For instance, the partnership with Lego, through its Lego Education division, has provided the campus with numerous tools for classroom and laboratory use, and the collaboration with ArtsEd, one of the top performing arts schools in the United Kingdom.
"The ICS educational path is enriched by a further mission: to invest in environmental education and to steer change toward a sustainable society composed of conscious citizens," explains Luca Uva, CEO of the parent company Globeducate. "The link with the WWF is proof of this: speakers and experts will provide guidelines for teachers to educate students on environmental issues, and thanks to the WWF Education Team, the school will have the opportunity to participate in a rich calendar of events aimed at raising awareness of these values."
