by InTrieste
High school students across Friuli Venezia Giulia will soon have the chance to step inside the region’s main data center as part of a new program designed to foster digital literacy and raise awareness about cybersecurity.
The initiative, called “Educational Visits to the Insiel Data Center and Focus on Cybersecurity,” is part of the Regional Digital School Plan for 2025–2028, approved in July. Organized by Insiel, the region’s in-house information technology company, the project invites third- and fourth-year students from selected secondary schools to participate in structured half-day visits to the Trieste facility.
“This project brings students closer to the realities of digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and ICT professions through a direct, immersive experience,” said Diego Antonini, Insiel’s chief executive, at the program’s presentation in Trieste on Friday. “Well-informed students can play a role not only in shaping their own professional futures, but also in raising awareness within their families and communities.”
The program is aimed at schools with technical and scientific curricula, including computer science tracks in scientific high schools and institutes offering courses in electronics, telecommunications, and business information systems. For third-year students, the visits are intended to provide early orientation and exposure to technical fields. For fourth-year students, they are meant to serve as a bridge toward university or professional training.
Regional officials highlighted the broader goals behind the effort. “Italy is facing a demographic decline and a shortage of digital skills,” said Sebastiano Callari, regional councillor for information systems. “A recent white paper presented in Rome showed that the artificial intelligence and software sector is already worth €39 billion, and nearly 900,000 new professionals with digital expertise will be needed in the coming years. Bringing schools into this world is essential if we want to meet the challenges ahead.”
Alessia Rosolen, regional councillor for education and research, emphasized that the visits are part of a long-term strategy. “Over the next three years, the region will invest €1.9 million in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity,” she said. “Digital skills are strategic for our future — from data security to predictive systems. This work begins in primary school and continues through universities, in partnership with the University of Trieste and the University of Udine.”
The project also has the support of the Regional School Office. Francesca Di Liberti, representing the office’s director general, called the visits “a significant step in the Digital School Plan,” stressing that digital citizenship is now a core component of education. “These initiatives show students that cybersecurity and data management are not abstract concepts but central to daily life, as well as to the workplace,” she said.
From October 2025 through April 2026, about 20 visits are scheduled, each accommodating a single class of 20 to 22 students. The sessions will be divided into two parts: a tour of the Insiel server rooms and a workshop on cybersecurity. Each will conclude with a question-and-answer session.
Participation is limited, and schools must submit requests by September 22. The Regional School Office will circulate application forms to institutions, after which Insiel will finalize a calendar with the participating schools.
Antonini said the program is designed to go beyond a simple field trip. “We want students to leave with practical knowledge and critical thinking skills that will help them navigate a digital future,” he said.
