The opening ceremony of the new academic year at UWC Adriatic in Trieste took place in conjunction with the Barcolana Sea Summit, creating a meaningful link between education and environmental awareness. The event celebrated the mission of the college to bring together young people from all over the world in the spirit of understanding, respect, and shared responsibility toward the planet.
We were honoured to attend as guests representing I.S.I.S. Malignani – Udine, reaffirming the strong connection between our two institutions. This partnership, built on environmental responsibility, innovation, and intercultural learning, continues to grow through projects that encourage students to learn with and from one another.
During his address, the Rector reminded all participants that today’s educators can rely on three essential elements in shaping the citizens of tomorrow: diversity as a source of richness, ethics as a compass in the digital age, and collaboration as a bridge among cultures.
We also renewed our commitment to interdisciplinary and intergenerational collaboration, a principle that inspires much of our educational approach. Building on last year’s experiences, students from both schools have worked together on initiatives exploring inclusive forms of leadership, equality of opportunity, and other current global issues that call for creativity and empathy. These encounters have strengthened the idea that education is most powerful when it unites different perspectives and generations around a common goal.
As we joined the collective invitation to peace, dialogue, and cooperation for sustainability, the Adriatic Sea provided the perfect backdrop — a reminder of the shared natural heritage that connects us all, and of the responsibility we have to protect it for future generations.
Sara Ciganotto
