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La Stampa: Francesco Profumo – “The ministry only supervises individual acts. Autonomy is not up for discussion”

Source: La Stampa, also in physical edition from June 09th 2024, page 24.


Francesco Profumo: “The ministry only supervises individual acts. Autonomy is not in question”

The former president of Compagnia and Acri: “The system of institutions has antibodies. For appointments, the triad mechanism doesn’t work, a simple indication is better”

By Claudia Luise, June 9th, 2024 at 12:17

4 min reading

“Foundations have the antibodies to overcome complicated moments”. Francesco Profumo, former President of the Compagnia di San Paolo and former President of Acri (l’Associazione di Fondazioni e di Casse di Risparmio italiane) answers the phone while he is at the airport, engaged in his double life as a trainer with the academic institution OPIT (of which he is rector) and an innovator with Isybank, the online bank of Intesa Sanpaolo (of which he is President).

What is your opinion on the Crt Foundation affair?

“I don’t want to go into the Crt issue, because I don’t know the details and it’s not my responsibility, but I can report my personal experience, as a former president of the foundation. In recent months, the Compagnia di San Paolo has undertaken the process of revising its statute and renewing its governance, everything went smoothly and within the expected time frame. I believe that the Society’s statute is a good statute and that it can also be a model for other foundations. As preliminaries to the revision of the statute, which is approximately 10 years old, the new post-pandemic national and European context, the hybrid territorial foundation model and the new operating methods tested in the last 8 years, during my presidency, were posed. The designating bodies have a very important role, because they designate the Councilors of the new governance, with the skills necessary to make the foundation work well collegially. The designations are “dry”, one for each position to be renewed. The Steering Committee constitutes a collegial evaluation of the CV of each designee and votes on their appointment. The Directors thus appointed have no mandate and must work for the good of the foundation and the beneficiaries”.

If a commissioner arrives in Turin, could the “fool” made by the territory also generate repercussions within the Company?

“I do not think so. The Company has demonstrated over the decades that it is a resilient entity, despite natural transitions in governance. Some accidents can happen in a large community like that of foundations, in Italy there are 86, but I believe that there are the right antibodies to bring these events back to the right dimension”.

Is it right for foundations to be controlled at a public level?

“The ruling of the Consulta, 300 of 2003, clarified that foundations are private bodies with full statutory and management autonomy, non-profit, with social objectives, subject to legitimacy supervision of individual acts by the Treasury. So there are all the elements for these bodies to be responsibly autonomous. From this point of view there has been an interesting evolution.”

What was it?

“The thirty years of the foundations can be divided into approximately three decades. The first, from the Amato law (1990) to the Ciampi law (1999), in which well-defined rules did not yet exist and potential beneficiaries asked for resources directly from the foundations, which responded based on availability. The second, from the Ciampi law to the signing of the Acri-MEF protocol (2015), in which the rules were written, for example on the management of assets and on the maximum number of director mandates”.

And now?

“The maturity of the foundations has been underway since 2015. Today they are subjects who act, in the territories, as development agents and, as such, have developed the strategic capacity to define objectives, priorities and methods of intervention and operate in subsidiarity with other third sector subjects, public and private. Many foundations today operate in a hybrid mode: they are not only providers, but also implementers.”

What does this mutation mean?

“Foundations increasingly often implement capacity building, co-planning and results evaluation actions. The Pnrr was a very interesting field of experimentation with excellent results.”

What do you think of Lagarde’s decision to lower rates?

“The European Central Bank acted correctly.”

What path should the ECB take?

“President Lagarde’s words are very clear. “Interest rates must remain restrictive as long as necessary to ensure price stability on a lasting basis. In other words, we will still have to keep our foot on the brake pedal for a while, even if we don’t push as hard as before.”

OPIT, the leading academic institution dedicated to the digital themes, is organizing a meeting at the Grattacielo Intesa Sanpaolo in Turin on Thursday. But why do we need educational programs like this?

“Next will be the second academic year of this new institution which is based in Malta. The fundamental reason is that there is a demand for education that is closely connected to the digital transition, with all that it entails, both from the point of view of skills and the speed of change and uncertainty. Industrial revolutions previously lasted up to 90 years and therefore what you learned in school was enough for a lifetime. This industrial revolution, however, will be very short, it will last about twenty years, so it will be necessary to do more training. And then, while in the other three revolutions there was a partial replacement of people’s muscular strength with a form of energy, now for the first time we have an aid to brain activity.”

What impact does all this have on education?

“By putting these elements together, we understand that the training models and the resulting offer will have to be different compared to the past: they will have to be more diversified (different actors who will play their part in this new world that is being built) and based on a model of people’s lives that surpasses the current one, dictated by a part of studying/training, a part of work and a part of retirement. The reduction of the times of this revolution will ensure that what we have learned in school is not enough and therefore we will need to go back to school several times, unlearning things we have learned and learning new ones. In the first part of life, therefore, we must learn to learn; otherwise, updating skills will become extremely tiring for people. So there is a growing demand to decouple knowledge from skills: the former will last a lifetime, the latter will not. OPIT is an educational offer designed not on the basis of previous experiences, but on the basis of future needs. There are teachers from over 40 countries and the accreditation is done in an English-speaking nation to have a truly international spirit with students from all over the world who can contribute to the creation of this new training culture.”

What role could the Italian foundation for AI, born in Turin a few weeks ago, have?

“It is a little early to say what the operational model of the Foundation will be, the President has just been appointed and the first act will be the start of the selection procedure for the Director. The Director, who is the central figure for the development of the Centre, will have to present the Strategic Plan, which will indicate the main sectors of activity, the skills of the staff who will have to be hired initially and the network of scientific relations at local, Italian and European level , which will be launched in the first two years of the Foundation’s life. The times will not be short, also due to the competition with other similar initiatives, which are developing in Italy and Europe”.

As president of Isybank, how do you combine all the roles?

“Training, research and applications in the artificial intelligence sector are and will be increasingly interesting, with their developments happening in the coming years. We are only at the dawn of a revolution that will profoundly change our way of living, studying and working and we will have to be prepared to manage these transitions. I am sure that the speed of change and the uncertainty of the future will be two characterizing elements of this historical phase and we will have to be very careful not to forget the centrality of man and the ethical aspects with respect to the changes we will have to make. We will have to be very attentive to the education of the new generations, starting from the first years of school, but we will also have to invest with great attention in people already in adulthood, who will have to be accompanied and not abandoned. With reference to Isybank, I have started studying and I hope that in a reasonable time I will be able to make an intellectual and operational contribution to a sector of great importance for our country”.

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Computer Science and Cloud Computing: What Skills Are Needed for the Future
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Oct 20, 2025 6 min read

More and more students are turning to careers in computer science, and it’s easy to see why. The world is becoming increasingly reliant on and powered by modern technology with every passing day.

Emerging innovations like artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing are set to change the face of countless industries. This means qualifications in computer science unlock the doors to countless job opportunities.

However, this is also a dynamic and rapidly changing field – a field that demands a distinct set of core skills to not only achieve success, but also future-proof your career for years to come.

The Importance and Value of Computer Science and Cloud Computing Qualifications

Official statistics show that the European cloud computing market is set to experience an astonishing compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of almost 23% in the coming years, moving from a value of €110 billion in 2024 to a lower-end estimate €250 billion by 2028, and it won’t stop there.

The same sort of growth is being seen across the full spectrum of computer science fields and industries, with emerging technologies like AI, automation, and edge computing all spearheading the surging value and importance of these sectors.

The increasing shift away from conventional computing towards cloud computing shows just how quickly the technological world changes and evolves. It also demonstrates the need for professionals with a wide and varied range of skills, plus the ability to adapt to rapidly changing situations.

Those who can bring these skills to the table, supported by a comprehensive education and effective computer science qualifications, can enjoy:

  • Entry into job markets that have exceptionally high levels of demand.
  • Diverse career opportunities in fields that range from AI and machine learning to computer engineering and software development.
  • Competitive salaries, with consistently high rates offered all around the world.
  • Job security and stability, given the ever-increasing significance of technology in the modern world.

Core Skills to Master for Long Careers in Computer Science

Next, let’s look into the actual specific skills that computer science students and aspiring leaders will need to master to secure their futures.

Programming Languages

Being able to work with code is the bedrock of almost any career in computer science. Aspiring scientists will need to master one or several programming languages, including Java for building business and web apps, Python for web development, and C++ for system programming.

Networks and Architectures

Computer scientists also need a strong core knowledge of the fundamentals of the computing world, like how networks function, the various protocols and architectures that control the flow of data from device to device, etc.

Algorithms and Data

Algorithms play a fundamental role in fields like AI and machine learning, so computer scientists must understand how different algorithms and data structures drive computing processes, problem-solving, and development.

Software Development

Computer scientists may spend much of their time working on development projects post-graduation, which may include apps for the web, business, mobile, and more. A strong understanding of the stages of the software development lifecycle and processes involved is, therefore, essential.

Cloud Computing

With cloud computing growing in importance, unlocking whole new fields, like software as a service (SaaS) and desktop as a service (DaaS), the computer scientists of tomorrow will also need to have intricate knowledge of how cloud computing works and the potential it holds.

Soft Skills

Along with the many technical skills listed above, computer scientists will also benefit from vital soft skills that will help them when collaborating with others, presenting their ideas, driving innovation in their chosen fields, leading teams, and managing projects. These skills include:

  • Being able to communicate effectively, both with fellow computer scientists and non-technical audiences as well
  • Analytical thinking and problem-solving skills that help scientists understand and respond to challenges
  • Adaptability, so that scientists can keep on learning, evolving their skill sets, and embracing new tech and ideas as they emerge
  • The ability to work as part of a team, often fundamental for large-scale computing projects
  • Attention to detail that allows you to spot that single line of code that needs fixing, or for tasks like debugging and data interpretation

Get the Best Start With a BSc in Computer Science at OPIT

We’ve seen the skills you need to succeed in computer science and cloud computing for years to come, but one question remains: where is the best place to gain these skills and acquire the necessary knowledge for genuine long-term success?

The answer: the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT).

An exclusively online learning platform specializing in computer science and digital business, OPIT offers a curated collection of online degrees for tomorrow’s technology leaders, including a Foundation Program for beginners, bachelor’s programs, and master’s degrees for the most experienced students.

Why Study at OPIT?

Advantages of studying with OPIT include:

  • Accessible and flexible online learning to suit your needs and pace
  • A focus on real-world applications of the skills and knowledge imparted
  • A leading team of top tutors and professors from diverse fields and nations
  • An international community of students with which to collaborate
  • Progressive assessment of skills and knowledge, as opposed to exam-heavy schedules

Those planning pathways into computer science and cloud computing are best served by OPIT’s BSc in Computer Science program.

Lasting six terms and worth 180 ECTS credits, this fully remote, online, and accredited undergraduate degree was developed with insights from industry leaders, academics, and employers within the IT industry.

It equips graduates with both the fundamental theoretical knowledge they need to succeed in technology, as well as the practical skills required to enter the world of work and immediately innovate in fields like programming, cybersecurity, data science, AI, and cloud computing.

Like other courses and programs available at OPIT, this BSc in Computer Science provides students with a flexible learning program involving a mixture of recorded and engaging live content, progressive assessment, fast-track options for those who study at a faster pace, and round-the-clock accessibility to tutors and fellow learners.

If you feel that computer science or cloud computing is the right path for you, and you want to secure the foundational skills you need to succeed, consider the OPIT BSc in Computer Science to help you achieve your dreams.

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My Journey Into Responsible AI at OPIT: Inauguration Day & Why I Chose This Path
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
OPIT - Open Institute of Technology
Oct 20, 2025 6 min read

On September 8, 2025, the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) officially inaugurated its 2025/26 academic year, welcoming a whole host of new students into the institute, ready to gain the skills and knowledge they need to be the tech industry leaders of tomorrow.

Faculty members, guest speakers from around the world, and hundreds of students from over 100 nations were all in attendance at the online inauguration event. Among them was one new student on the MSc in Responsible AI program: Rem Lampa, also known by his online alias, Kuya Dev.

A Filipino podcaster, speaker, and developer, Kuya Dev documented the inauguration experience in a YouTube video, sharing his thoughts on the event. Here’s a detailed look at his experience, showing the welcoming and effective way in which new OPIT students are brought into the institute from the first day.

An Overview of the Inauguration Event

The latest OPIT inauguration event was one to remember, with the institute celebrating several notable milestones. These included the first graduation of the MSc in Applied Data Science and AI program, and the unveiling of new industry connections and corporate partners offering opportunities for graduates.

Various guest speakers were in attendance, including the former Italian Minister of Education and current OPIT Rector, Professor Francesco Profumo, plus the CEO of Malta’s accreditation authority MFHEA, Dr. Rose Anne Cuschieri.

OPIT founder, Riccardo Ocleppo, also took to the stage to highlight the transformative role of education and the unique possibilities offered by the online-only OPIT degrees, stating:

“When we launched OPIT in 2022, we wanted to prove that an online degree could be rigorous, international, deeply connected to the world of work, and engaging. Three years later, we can already see results. This year alone, 300 new students are joining us, representing 98 nationalities.”

Those hundreds of new students were also, naturally, in attendance for their big inauguration day, welcomed into the institute’s various BSc and MSc programs in specialties like Computer Science, Digital Business, Digital Business and Innovation, and Cybersecurity.

Introducing Rem ‘Kuya Dev’ Lampa

As mentioned, one of the new students joining was vlogger and podcaster, Kuya Dev.

Already boasting extensive experience and technical expertise in the computing world, Kuya Dev has founded several tech communities, including Tech Career Shifter Philippines and Server-Side JavaScript.

He describes himself as an advocate for responsible AI and tech practices, and once gave a powerful TEDx talk about the negative potential impacts of artificial intelligence (AI), including its large carbon footprint and involving exploitation of workers in emerging nations. So, it was only fitting that he signed up for OPIT’s MSc in Responsible AI.

The MSc in Responsible AI Program

A postgraduate program lasting three or four terms (between 12 and 24 months, total), OPIT’s MSc in Responsible AI is an accredited program that combines technical skills with a core focus on the ethical implications of AI technology.

It explores real-world use cases of AI and ways in which this exciting and powerful technology can be used responsibly and sustainably, emphasizing its potential for both positive and negative change in areas such as the environment and society as a whole.

Students of this program enjoy all the usual benefits that come with studying at OPIT, like flexible-paced learning, tutors available on a daily basis, a dynamic and engaging online learning environment, and fair, progressive assessments over time.

Those who graduate can move into careers in AI Application Development, AI Research, and AI Business Consulting.

Highlights and Impressions of Kuya Dev’s Inauguration Experience

Inauguration is always a special moment in any student’s academic journey as they take their first tentative yet exciting steps towards new knowledge and skills that can unlock their potential and accelerate their development.

It can even be a “make-or-break” moment in which students can either feel welcomed, empowered, and eager to begin their studies, or, conversely, experience feelings of worry, doubt, or regret if the inauguration lacks the spark they were hoping to feel.

Fortunately, Kuya Dev and his many fellow new OPIT students had a very positive experience at the inauguration event, with the vlogger calling it both “very fruitful” and “very insightful.” Some of the specific highlights he mentioned included:

An International Community

Early in the inauguration event, Kuya Dev heard from Professor Francesco Profumo about how OPIT was welcoming students from over 90 countries.

This, for Kuya Dev and for so many other students, is one of the big perks of studying with OPIT. It allows students to meet, engage, and exchange with people from dozens of different backgrounds, cultures, and communities, learning new ways of thinking and collaborating.

Real World Applications

The OPIT inauguration also focused on another of the university’s key features: a focus not merely on imparting knowledge to students or making them memorize facts, figures, and theorems, but actually teaching them how to apply that knowledge and ideas to real-world uses.

Kuya Dev commented on how other universities that he had considered attending appeared more conventional and limited in their approach, and also shared his excitement and enthusiasm at OPIT’s unique approach, focusing more on genuine industry collaboration and real-life scenarios.

Inspiring Speakers

The vlogger and podcaster also commented on the various key speakers who hosted the event. He was pleased to see that they were not only academically oriented but also all had real-world experience and a diverse range of working backgrounds in fields like politics.

This, too, is part of what makes OPIT different. It features a winning team of international tutors, professors, and experts from diverse fields, including the aforementioned former Italian Education Minister, education executives, research chairs, digital content creation specialists, and more.

Graduate Experiences

Finally, Kuya Dev noted how several OPIT graduates spoke to those about to follow the same path they did, including students from nations as diverse as the U.S., Italy, and Nigeria.

They all shared their experiences and detailed what they enjoyed most about studying with OPIT, including key factors such as professors who took the time to get to know their students, as well as the depth of the topics and knowledge covered in each course.

A Successful First Step Into OPIT Education

All in all, the recent inauguration event was a major success for all involved, giving students like Kuya Dev the ideal introduction to life and study with OPIT. He, like so many of his new fellow students, left the event eager and excited to expand their knowledge and broaden their horizons in unique ways that only OPIT can provide.

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