Vision and Mission

Our Mission: Two Souls, One Common Goal

The TLC-DLMh operates through an integrated dual strategy — which we call "the two souls" — responding simultaneously to the needs of the internal academic community and to the opportunities offered by the surrounding territory, ensuring both economic sustainability and social impact.

FIRST SOUL: Service to the Academic Community 

Teaching Excellence and Internal Skills Certification

This is our founding soul, the institutional raison d'être of the centre. We serve the university community with the goal of continuously elevating the quality of teaching and certifying the competencies acquired throughout the academic journey.

For Faculty and Researchers:

Every member of faculty at the University of Catania — from newly appointed lecturers to full professors — has access to an integrated faculty development system that accompanies the entire academic career:

  • Compulsory Initial Training: A structured programme for newly appointed staff (modelled on NUS PDP-T / Dutch UTQ) covering the foundations of effective university teaching: learning outcomes-based design, constructive alignment, formative assessment, educational technologies, and inclusive teaching. Upon completion, participants receive the microcredential "University Teaching Foundations" (15 ECTS), recognised for career advancement purposes.
  • Continuing Professional Development (CPD): An ongoing calendar of workshops, masterclasses, open conversations, and educator-in-residence programmes for continuous updating on innovative methodologies (Problem-Based Learning, Flipped Classroom, Team-Based Learning), digital tools (AI in teaching, learning analytics, digital assessment), and emerging topics (academic integrity, student wellbeing, hybrid teaching).
  • Personalised Consultancy: One-to-one support for course redesign, peer observation and feedback, teaching portfolio development, preparation of teaching dossiers for promotion, and Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) projects.
  • Stackable Pedagogical Microcredentials: A progressive certification system (Foundation → Specialised → Advanced) enabling faculty to build documented, verifiable, and recognised pedagogical competencies — from Instructional Design to Assessment Innovation, from Technology-Enhanced Learning to Inclusive Teaching.
  • Communities of Practice: The creation of peer-to-peer exchange spaces (Open Conversations, thematic Learning Communities, Teaching Excellence Showcases) where faculty share challenges, solutions, and innovations, fostering a collaborative culture of continuous improvement.

Access Model: All services for faculty and researchers are provided free of charge, funded through the institutional budget as a strategic investment in teaching quality — because excellent teachers produce excellent students.

For Students:

Students are at the heart of our educational mission. The TLC-DLMh offers certification pathways for transversal competencies — the soft skills and digital competencies that complement disciplinary preparation and make a tangible difference in the labour market:

  • Digital Competencies: Microcredentials aligned with the European DigComp 2.2 framework (Digital Literacy, Data Literacy, Digital Content Creation, Online Safety & Digital Wellbeing), attesting mastery of digital tools that are increasingly in demand.
  • Soft Skills Certificate: Certifications in Communication & Presentation, Critical Thinking & Problem Solving, Collaboration & Teamwork, and Self-Regulated Learning — competencies that employers consistently identify as priorities, and which are often not covered by disciplinary curricula.
  • Professional Skills: Project Management Fundamentals, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, Academic Writing Excellence — microcredentials that provide concrete preparation for entry into the labour market or for progression towards doctoral programmes and master's degrees.
  • Verifiable Digital Badges: Every microcredential issued takes the form of a digital badge compliant with the Open Badges 3.0 standard, with blockchain verification, which students can include in their CV, share on LinkedIn, and carry throughout their professional lives as portable, verifiable evidence of acquired competencies.
  • Integrated E-Portfolio: A platform where students build their own competency portfolio, visualise learning pathways, and track progress towards professional goals.

Access Model: Microcredentials for UniCT students are free of charge or available at a nominal cost (covering materials, maximum €20–50), ensuring that no student is excluded on economic grounds. Equitable access is a non-negotiable principle.

For Technical and Administrative Staff:

Technical and administrative staff also have access to upskilling programmes, particularly in digital competencies (use of teaching platforms, learning management systems, digital credentials management) and transversal skills (customer service, project management, communication) — because the quality of the student experience depends on the entire university community.

Expected Impact:

  • 450+ faculty trained per year through structured programmes
  • 1,200+ students certified per year with transversal microcredentials
  • Measurable improvement in student satisfaction with teaching (target: +15% over 3 years)
  • Increased employability of certified students (outcome tracking 6–12 months post-graduation)
  • A culture of teaching innovation diffused across the institution: from early adopters to mainstream practice

SECOND SOUL: Territorial Hub for Lifelong Learning

Upskilling, Reskilling, and Certification for the Community

The second soul of the TLC-DLMh looks beyond the boundaries of the campus, responding to the growing demand for lifelong learning from professionals, businesses, public institutions, and the wider territorial community. This soul is not ancillary but strategic: it generates economic sustainability and amplifies the university's social impact.

The Context: A Global Necessity, A Local Opportunity

International data are unequivocal:

  • 50% of the global workforce will require reskilling by 2027 due to digitalisation and automation (OECD)
  • 60% of European employers struggle to find workers with adequate skills (Eurostat Skills Mismatch Survey)
  • The global microcredentials market will grow at a CAGR of 23.7% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $12.9 billion (MarketsandMarkets)

In Sicily, these challenges are even more acute: high youth unemployment, a pressing need for digital transition among SMEs, tech skills shortages in advanced manufacturing sectors, and a massive upskilling requirement within the public administration for the digitalisation of services.

For Businesses and SMEs:

We offer customised corporate programmes co-designed with industrial partners to address specific skills gaps:

  • Digital Transformation Skills: Microcredentials in Industry 4.0, IoT, Data Analytics, and Cybersecurity basics — designed in partnership with companies such as STMicroelectronics for advanced manufacturing workforces.
  • Professional Services Competencies: Project Management, Agile methodologies, Business Analysis, Client Relationship Management — developed in partnership with firms such as Accenture and PwC, which formally recognise our certifications.
  • Leadership & Management: Pathways for middle managers covering People Management, Strategic Thinking, Change Management, and Digital Leadership.
  • Sector-Specific Upskilling: Vertical programmes for key sectors of the Sicilian economy (tourism, agri-food, logistics, healthcare) combining digital competencies with domain-specific knowledge.

Delivery modes:

  • Blended learning (online + in-person workshops) to maximise flexibility without sacrificing interaction
  • Cohort-based delivery to foster peer learning and networking among participants
  • Formal recognition by employers (certificates integrated into HR systems)

For Public Administration:

We collaborate with the Sicilian Regional Government, municipalities, and local authorities on continuous training plans for public sector staff:

  • Digital Skills for PA: Based on the DigComp framework for public administrations, covering process digitalisation, document management systems, cybersecurity awareness, e-procurement, and SPID/CIE integration.
  • Transversal Competencies: Citizen-facing communication, project management for EU-funded programmes, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Compliance & Regulatory Updates: Training on new legislation (GDPR, Digital Administration Code, transparency, anti-corruption) with recognised certifications.

Delivery modes:

  • Framework agreements with public bodies
  • Preferential pricing compared to corporate rates
  • Flexible delivery compatible with public service hours (evenings, weekends, intensive modules)

For Professionals and Self-Employed Workers:

Individuals seeking reskilling for career transitions or upskilling to remain competitive:

  • Tech Skills: Coding bootcamps, Cloud Computing (AWS partnership), Data Science fundamentals, AI/ML literacy.
  • Creative & Communication: Digital Marketing, Content Creation, UX/UI Design basics, Public Speaking.
  • Regulated Professions: Programmes for mandatory continuing education credits (recognised by professional bodies for accountants, engineers, architects, and other regulated professions).