What we do

Why a Teaching & Learning Centre in Catania, Why Now

The University of Catania is the oldest university in Sicily and one of the largest in Southern Italy. With a community of more than 1,500 faculty members and researchers and over 40,000 students, it has both the responsibility and the potential to act as an engine of innovation — not only for its own territory, but for the wider Italian higher education system.

The TLC-DLMh responds to concrete, measurable needs:

For Faculty:

  • The majority of Italian university lecturers have never received formal pedagogical training
  • Teaching methodologies are evolving rapidly — active learning, technology-enhanced learning, inclusive teaching — yet systematic support structures remain largely absent
  • The assessment of teaching practice is increasingly central to career progression, yet faculty need dedicated tools to document and continuously improve their own teaching

For Students:

  • The labour market demands certified, verifiable transversal competencies — digital literacy, soft skills, critical thinking
  • Students need portable credentials that attest to specific competencies acquired during and beyond their degree programme
  • Learning does not end at graduation: flexible pathways for continuous professional updating are essential

For the Territory:

  • Sicilian businesses — from SMEs to multinationals such as STMicroelectronics — report a growing skills gap, particularly in digital and managerial competencies
  • The public administration has substantial upskilling needs among its workforce to support the digital transition
  • Professionals are seeking short, certified programmes to remain competitive in rapidly evolving markets

For the University:

  • The need to differentiate its educational offer in an increasingly competitive landscape, responding to growing demand for continuing and professionally-oriented training
  • The opportunity to generate sustainable revenue through premium training services for external users, reinvesting proceeds in the academic mission
  • Positioning as a regional hub for educational innovation, attracting European partnerships and funded research projects