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Newspeg. Maffioletti was in Bengalu- of starting dual degree programmes
ru on March 28 to inaugurate IICCI’s with Indian HEIs, and under NEP
southern region office in the garden 2020, an Italian university may soon
city. IICCI has a network of five of- have a campus in India,” says Maf-
fices across India with 30 employees. fioletti.
Among IICCI’s flagship projects Benvenuto!
is Minerva — The Italian Education Summiya Yasmeen (Bengaluru)
Hub — an initiative to enable coop-
eration and collaboration between Doctors' teacher
Italy’s top-ranked universities, voca-
tional training institutes and educa-
tion institutions in India. And also ALU RAMACHANDRAN
to facilitate the admission of Indian is founder-promoter of
students into Italian higher educa- Bthe Bengaluru-based
tion institutions (HEIs). Currently, Omnicuris Academy Pvt. Ltd (OCA,
Minerva represents seven Italian estb. 2023), an online edtech
HEIs including Humanitas Universi- platform providing a wide range of
ty (medicine, Milan); Milano Fashion Maffioletti: great opportunity programmes to medical practitioners
Institute (Milan); Accademia Cos- to contemporise their knowledge
tume e Moda (Rome and Milan), and Since then, the membership of IICCI and upskill their practice of healing
ALMA — The International School of has grown to 750, and Indo-Italian sciences. Within one year since
Italian Cuisine (Parma). Currently, trade to €15 billion (Rs.1.3 lakh OCA’s promotion, 2,200 medical
1,000 Indian students are enrolled in crore). practitioners countrywide have
Italian HEIs. Direct talk. “India and Italy are both signed up for one or more of OCA’s
“In 2018, then Italian prime ancient civilizations with numerous 100-plus upskilling programmes of
minister H.E. Giuseppe Conte signed commonalities. Through the Minerva 1-12 months duration. The academic
several agreements with prime project, we want to promote educa- content is delivered online with
minister Narendra Modi in Delhi. tion ties between our two countries. practical clinical training provided in
Among them was the establishment Italy hosts several ancient universi- association with top hospitals. Price
of Minerva by IICCI under patronage ties with excellent global reputation range: Rs.5,000-30 lakh.
of the Italian Embassy in Delhi. Mi- for fashion design, hospitality and Newspeg. Last December, OCA
nerva’s prime objective is to promote tourism, architecture and medical launched postgraduate diploma and
Italian HEIs in India and support education with a growing number degree programs of the UK-based
them to provide higher education offering English language study Queen Mary, Buckingham and South
and vocational training to Indian programmes. Italian HEIs also Wales universities. Under this initia-
students. I am pleased to report offer excellent vocational training tive, academic content will be pro-
that since then, we have facilitated and skill development programmes vided online by the British universi-
the admission of over 100 Indian in manufacturing and agriculture. ties with internship and practical
students into Italian universities and Moreover in Italy, we have a long training in Indian hospitals super-
enabled several Italian HEIs to sign tradition of artisanal apprenticeships vised and certified by OCA. Moreover
partnership agreements with Indian which would greatly benefit Indian last month, the academy introduced
universities,” says Maffioletti. students in vocational education,” a hybrid course that enables MBBS
History. A philosophy and business says Maffioletti. doctors to acquire fellowships in a
management graduate of Parma Uni- Future plans. Maffioletti is excited range of specialities offered by Royal
versity (Italy) and City University, about bourgeoning trade and educa- College (UK) examinations. Under
London, Maffioletti began his career tion ties with India with vocational the programme, OCA has partnered
in 2003 at Institut de France, Loire education and skilling being a special with the Kerala-based StudyMedic
Valley as project manager followed focus area. “With skills training Academy to prepare MBBS graduates
by a three-year (2004-07) stint in for the manufacturing sector being for these additional qualifications.
Italy’s highly regarded think tank, accorded high importance in India History. An engineering and busi-
Institute for International Political currently, we believe there’s great ness management alum of CUSAT
Studies, Milan. In 2007, Maffioletti opportunity for Indian students to (Cochin University of Science &
was appointed general manager of avail excellent training and hands- Technology) and the top-ranked ISB
IICCI, Mumbai and promoted to on industry experience in Italy. We (Indian School of Business), Hyder-
CEO and Secretary-General in 2015. are also looking into the possibility abad, Ramachandran acquired over

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