Young people and the future of mountains: welcoming the new first-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree and co-designing the upcoming Permanent Territorial Hub

The welcome event for the new first-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree “VALMONT” took place at the UNIMONT Campus of the University of Milan, followed by a discussion panel for the “Hub Giovani per le Professioni della Montagna” project.

The day of 23 September began at the UNIMONT Campus with a welcome to the new first-year students of the Bachelor’s Degree in “Valorizzazione e tutela dell’ambiente e del territorio montano – VALMONT”. The meeting also featured contributions from the Mayor of Edolo and representatives of the local emergency and law enforcement services: Carabinieri di Edolo, Soccorso Alpino della Guardia di Finanza di Edolo, Polizia Stradale di Darfo Boario Terme and Comando dei Vigili del Fuoco di Darfo Boario Terme, who shared with the students the importance of the monitoring, safety, and management of the mountain territory.

The proceedings then continued with the presentation of the “Hub Giovani per le Professioni della Montagna” project, an initiative promoted by ANCI Nazionale and managed in partnership with ANCI Lombardia, the UNIMONT Campus, Consorzio Consolida, and the Municipality of Edolo, aimed at connecting young people with the job market.

From the dialogue between stakeholders, students from the UNIMONT Campus and the I.I.S. Meneghini in Edolo, and local youth, a clear need emerged: bridging gaps and building a direct communication channel. While the local economic fabric demands updated skills and wishes to showcase real local employment opportunities, the younger generations seek practical guidance, clarity, and useful tools to navigate their entry into the workforce.

This convergence of goals outlines the operational path for the upcoming Permanent Territorial Hub in Edolo. The data and insights gathered during the morning are now guiding the design of new services dedicated to connecting education, professions, and the development of mountain areas.

The welcome event for the first-year students featured speeches by:

• Anna Giorgi, Full Professor of Environmental and Applied Botany, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Head of the UNIMONT Campus – University of Milan
• Luca Masneri, Mayor of Edolo
• Davide Facchinetti, Associate Professor of Agricultural Mechanics, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
• Maresciallo Capo Devis Kaswalder, Comandante della Stazione Carabinieri di Edolo
• Ispettore Comandante Cristian Scalvinoni, Distaccamento Polizia Stradale di Darfo Boario Terme
• Comandante Emanuele Fedriga, Comando dei Vigili del Fuoco di Darfo Boario Terme
• Vice Brigadiere Erica Vallory, Soccorso Alpino della Guardia di Finanza di Edolo

The presentation meeting for the “Hub Giovani per le Professioni della Montagna” project featured speeches by:

• Anna Giorgi, Full Professor of Environmental and Applied Botany, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, and Head of the UNIMONT Campus – University of Milan
• Luca Masneri, Mayor of Edolo
• Gianpiera Vismara, Coordinator of the Culture, Tourism, Sports, and Youth Policies Department of ANCI Lombardia
• Silvia Oliva, Economist
• Lucia Coradi, Expert Career Guidance Consultant and Collaborator of ANCI Lombardia
• Raffaella Zanardini, School Principal of I.I.S. Meneghini