Fostering Entrepreneurial Thinking in the Next Generation
Now in its third edition, the ITS Business Game is a contest organized by the ITS Nuove Tecnologie della Vita Academy, a post-diploma high technical specialization school. This initiative empowers first-year students to develop innovative business ideas, bringing together approximately 200 students divided into 20 diverse teams. Each team is tasked with tackling challenges presented by five participating companies, including IMCD Italy.
"The ITS business game is an important opportunity for exchange between schools and the world of work," said Giulia Bedini, HR Manager at IMCD Italy. "Students and HR professionals have had the chance to think together on topics of common interest from different perspectives."
The primary objective of the ITS Business Game is to nurture an entrepreneurial mindset among the students, equipping them with the skills and knowledge necessary to thrive in the dynamic business environment. By collaborating with industry partners, the students are exposed to real-world business scenarios, allowing them to apply their academic learning in a practical setting.
On June 12th, the final event of the ITS Business Game took place, where student teams presented their projects. The teams were tasked with developing a comprehensive employee welfare and well-being program to address the diverse needs of different generations within the workforce. The presentations simulated a commercial team pitching their project to the company, followed by a panel discussion and evaluation by the participating companies and ITS faculty members.
The teams demonstrated remarkable analytical skills and innovative thinking in proposing concrete, targeted solutions, highlighting key trends in the future of corporate welfare. Among their proposals, there was a strong focus on flexibility and the personalisation of benefits, with ideas ranging from corporate gyms to psychological support programmes, educational support for employees’ children and opportunities for cultural development.
A recurring theme was the improvement of company spaces, redesigned to encourage coworking, informal interaction and mental wellbeing.
The projects also underscored the importance and desire to build inclusive and motivating work environments, recognising the central role of people and strengthening the connection between individual wellbeing and collective performance through active listening channels and the promotion of corporate volunteering initiatives.
Overall, the projects showed a deep sensitivity to the diverse needs of different generations, envisioning a welfare model that supports employees throughout every stage of their careers and reinforces their sense of belonging to the organisation. This holistic and targeted approach reflects a clear vision from the younger generations of an ideal workplace built on 360-degree wellbeing and the full appreciation of people.
"We have listened with interest to the ideas of the new generations regarding new possible paths to take, and we have also been positively struck by the recognition they have given us for what we are already doing in the company today," continued Bedini. "What we take home, however, is a reinforcement of our belief: the dialogue and exchange between different generations is a great wealth!"
The ITS Business Game is an important example of the strong collaboration between IMCD Italy and ITS Nuove Tecnologie della Vita Academy. This partnership ensures students receive a well-rounded education, blending theoretical knowledge with practical, industry-relevant experiences. The final event showcased the students' innovative ideas and their ability to translate high-level learning into tangible business solutions.
IMCD Italy believes in the value of experiential learning and in maintaining an active dialogue with the education system. This project has enabled us to build a bridge between generations, knowledge, and diverse perspectives, giving the younger generation the chance to engage with the world of work and take on the challenge of improving it for the future.
