by DIANA PARDINI
We are living through truly extraordinary times, witnessing epoch-making changes that are not merely economic and social but, and I am deeply convinced of this, anthropological. What do I mean by this statement?
Today, it is the human being who is being called into question, not the artifact. The sciences tell us that the brain is characterized by neuroplasticity: experiences shape and mould it. This is an insight that the Heraclitus 2000 Association has always held dear in the educational programmes it has offered to the public.
We have now entered a phase of mutual evolutionary conditioning between human beings and techné and, more specifically, Artificial Intelligence. AI is presenting itself no longer merely as an effective operational tool, but as an entity that actively intervenes in what we see, what we choose, and what we believe.
Those who care deeply about education cannot fail to recognize the anthropological drift that leads human beings to abdicate their distinctive qualities—ethics, relationships, creativity, critical thinking, imagination, and intuition—by attempting to “transfer” them to computational systems, thereby mutilating their unique humanity.
Thus, over the past two years, within the flow of a process of continuous growth, we have designed and created our own digital Academy, open and guided by the tradition of thirty years of success in advanced education. It has been an important challenge, one over which we reflected and debated at length, making extensive use of encounters between different visions and, consequently, of the fertile richness born of diverse contributions.
The answer emerged clearly from this intense and vibrant multiplication of ideas: to offer and promote human digital education across the web.
Is this possible, or is it a contradiction in terms? A utopia in the face of a great educational machine, finely tuned and well established in its standardized and perfectly homologated paradigms?
Our conviction, rooted in living experience in the field, is founded upon an education that indissolubly unites advanced technical competencies with the extraordinary competencies of human relationships. Such an education, as we have witnessed, guarantees lasting and constructive success and enthusiasm for both individuals and the organizations to which they belong.
The Ciba Academy has developed an innovative format by starting, first and foremost, with People (its leadership team and faculty) and addressing itself to People (its learners). Indeed, each instructor represents a cornerstone of the Academy: an expert in their field who is committed to sharing their knowledge, fully aware of the positive contribution it can make not only to the learner’s professional life but also to their personal growth. Knowledge is thus conveyed with commitment and passion and is complemented by a personalized session with the learner once the course has been completed.
If education truly means supporting people on a journey of personal and professional development, then through our learning pathways we give life and voice to human development.
Within this perspective, the advanced technology of the Ciba Academy is placed at the service of the human value of its content and of the best possible learning experience. It offers individuals, professionals, and organizations hybrid and personalized learning pathways (online courses combined with direct meetings with instructors, as well as the Job Angel service providing one-to-one consultation with experts), because today, as we know well, professional roles evolve more rapidly than ever before.
Our purpose, therefore, is to encourage every learner not to meet the fate of the mouse trapped in the cage of technology, but to prepare themselves as human beings by working on their own personal development. In doing so, they can avoid being reduced to just another functional cog in the machinery of the system and instead become the protagonists of their own future by engaging with innovative and ethical topics within the macro-areas of life skills, sustainability, and entrepreneurship presented on the platform.
Those who have attended the Ciba Academy have been able to understand in depth and evaluate in practice the nature of our work, summarizing its meaning in these words:
“If I were to describe my journey within the Ciba Academy in a single expression, it would be added value. Every detail—from the subjects explored to the dialogues and interactions—is approached with discernment and kindness. What is cultivated is creative thinking, stimulated by critical thinking, while a firm commitment to self-knowledge is fostered, as this is essential for building relationships based on care. The guiding thread running through every course is ethics: human meaning is placed before the banality of the ordinary. Active listening, being truly present, and bringing one’s authentic self into every reciprocal relationship are at the heart of the experience. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity.”
— Dr. Chiara Venditti
