Catania, 5 October 2019 – It’s time to put an end to the first edition of ISPM 2019, the International Summer School on Project Management promoted by CoEHAR, Center of Excellence for the Acceleration of Harm Reduction at the University of Catania.
15 students coming from all over the world (Nigeria,India, New Zealand, Spain, United States and Malesia and so on) have taken part in lectures from experts in planning and managing research programs.
In the wonderful location of UNA Hotel Giardini Naxos, the students have enjoyed both moment of learning and moments linked to healthy lifestyle. Sport and fun were part of this incredible experience. The 15 young professionals have also had the opportunity to enjoy the cultural and natural landscape of Sicily, with guided visit to Taormina, Catania and the area surrounding the Etna, where they had a wine tasting and experimented dinners based on typical Sicilian flavors.
ISPM is the first out of nine research projects on tobacco harm reduction to which researchers have been working during these months, thanks to the collaboration of international partners.
During the week, students have been invited to work on projects that can promote the tobacco harm culture in low and middle incomes countries.
Divided in three groups, students worked hard to realize their project proposal, discussed Saturday 5 October in front of the ISPM scientific commission, which evaluated contents, implementation methods and exposure ability.
Chair of the Commission was Rosario Faraci, University of Catania. With him also Rosario Battiato, University of Catania, Antonio Pacino, ECLAT spinoff, Axel Klein, Swansea University and Denise Stevens, Yale University School of Medicine.
Among the three projects, one has stood out in terms of contents and implementation methods. The group that presented the best project of the first edition of ISPM will continue to work in collaboration with experts in the field. Everyone is now part of the first web community of project managers on tobacco harm reduction.
Riccardo Polosa, director of COEHAR, wanted to thank the students:
“Dear all,
The first edition of Summer School on Project Management organized by the CoEHAR has just ended. It was a real pleasure for us to guide you in this fantastic training course. I have read your proposals and I think they are all excellent ideas for the future projects. Your different background gave to the class the opportunity to have a very global vision on the Tobacco Harm Reduction. The ISPM goals will continue with the ISPM web community which will create the first network of project managers in the field of THR. I hope you really enjoyed this experience and that you could be the first testimonials of a school that we aims to improve thanks to your feedback.
I wish you all the best”. Riccardo Polosa
