CAS Economics and Pedagogy of Early Childhood Education 2023

This CAS builds on the strength of international lecturers from the US, Scandinavia, and beyond. Forest schools, Design thinking for Education, Project Approach, Lab-schools, the Digital, Visible Thinking, designing-assessing educational programmes.

Information

Period

January 2024 - June 2025
18 ECTS credits
144 Teaching hours

Language

English

Format

On-site

Contact

Location

Geneva

Registration

Registration deadline

15 December 2023
Modules can be followed individually

Fees:

CHF 7200.- for the entire CAS
CHF 1500.- per individual module (3 days)
CHF 1350.- per multiple modules (2 to 5 modules)

Group DISCOUNTS (applicable to schools and institutions alike)  

20% per 2 participants | 30% per 3 participants | 40% per 4 participants

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries

Objectives

  • Build a deep understanding of the most innovative educational methods; learn to apply them in any context
  • Obtain a unique international perspective, through expert instructors from the US to Scandinavia
  • Obtain a multidisciplinary understanding of education: pedagogy, neuroscience, psychology, and economics
  • Hands-on learning with direct and interactive, deep-dive experiences
  • Learn to integrate project-based learning, constructivism and visible thinking, design thinking for education, outdoor education and forest school practices, digital learning and technology, the Reggio Emilia approach, and learning through play as promoted by the LEGO Foundation
  • Become an innovator and problem seeker-solver alongside the children
  • Build strategies for onsite training, capacity development, and investment in early childhood education
  • Acquire expertise in assessing and designing educational programs and policies for early childhood education

Audience

Professional working with children, student, and teacher; teacher and director of preschools, primary schools, and international schools; educational consultant and pedagogical coordinator; international institutions and NGOs; professional working on educational best practices, designing national and international educational programs, or training onsite teacher in developing countries; international student and professional

Programme

6 modules compulsory for the CAS - 1 module optional. Two elective modules

  • Children Thinking Made Visible. Video Analysis - Documentation - Constructivism
  • Design Thinking, Empathy and Innovation
  • Advanced Design Thinking*
  • Forest Schools and Outdoor-Nature Education
  • Advanced Forest Schools and Outdoor-Nature Education* 
  • The Project Approach
  • The Reggio Emilia Approach to Education (Part 1). Lego Foundation, and brain architecture (Part 2)
  • Digital Learning
  • The Economics of Early Childhood Education

* Elective module. Please contact: eced(at)unige.ch

Director(s)

Prof. Salvatore DI FALCO and Paola TRIGARI, Geneva School of Economics and Management (GSEM), University of Geneva

Coordinator(s)

Paola TRIGARI, University of Geneva
A programme in Innovative Early Childhood and Primary Education built on the strength of international lecturers from the US, Scandinavia, and beyond. Design thinking for Education, The Digital, Computational Thinking, Visible Thinking, Project work, Forest schools, Lab-schools; Designing and assessing educational programmes.

Date(s)

29 January 2024
30 January 2024
31 January 2024

Speakers

Devon Young, design school’s K12 Lab, Stanford University, CA, US; Peter Worth, Educational Consultant, former co-director of the School Retool, project of the Stanford University d.school, CA, US

Description

Overview

Innovators, problem seekers, thinkers and doers.

Design Thinking is a methodology to affect change in teams and organizations and foster a culture of innovation. It is an iterative process used to solve the world's toughest challenges. This module will explore design thinking by actively engaging participants. Using a deep-dive process the participants are immersed as a team into the design thinking process through a situation leading to problem seeking, problem solving and idea creation. With an explicit focus on equity, participants will take on a local challenge centered on advancing equity within the educational community. They will engage in the stages of design which involves how to: empathize with a user, define the challenge facing the user, ideate solutions, prototype ideas and test a solution to a local or global challenge. This module will explore how educators and students can experience learning that stretches them beyond their comfort zone to develop new skills and mindsets. Participants will leave this module with a deep understanding of how design can be used to create equitable outcomes for more students; with the tools to use design within their own context to solve challenges facing education; with a new mindset for advocacy in education.

 

Program

Day 1   An Introduction to Design Thinking Process and Mindsets

Will introduce the basic methods and processes of design thinking with a rapid cycle challenge. Participants then complete a two-day immersive challenge to develop skill in the phases of design thinking: Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype, Test.

Day 2   Day Long Challenge

Will offer an intermediate deep-dive into the methods and processes of design thinking with an immersive challenge. Participants will engage in fieldwork to identify needs and then design solutions for users and test their prototypes to gain feedback.

Day 3   Organizational Implementation

Will deepen design thinking methods for participants to use and apply upon a personal challenge either on a professional subject or their organization. Each individual will structure a plan for managing design implementation and conduct an initial empathy interview with a stakeholder as a first step on the sprint. Participants will leave with prototype of how to apply design within their own context and how to engage others in the process of using design thinking to solve the tough challenges facing education within their communities.

 

Guest Speakers

Peter Worth,  educational consultant and learning experience designer; former co-director of School Retool, a project of the Stanford d. school K12 Lab and IDEO

Peter Worth is an educator and learning designer working at the intersection of design thinking, school leadership, professional learning, and school culture change. As former co-director of the School Retool professional learning fellowship—a project of the Stanford d.school’s K12 Lab and IDEO—he helped school leaders apply human-centered design to build an equitable school culture to prepare all students for post-secondary education, career, and civic life. Now based in Northern Ireland, Peter consults with a range of clients globally on primary, post-primary, and tertiary education, and facilitates in-person and virtual design thinking experiences. A career educator, Peter has been director of learning design and senior instructional designer for a professional learning ed-tech company, a senior research associate on assessment and standards with an educational research organization, and a public school teacher in Los Angeles County. Peter holds a Master’s degree in education (Learning, Design, & Technology) from Stanford University and a Bachelor’s degree in theater arts from UC Santa Cruz. 

 

Devon Young, Stanford University d. school

Devon Young is the Program Manager and Learning Experience Designer for the K12 Lab Network at the Stanford d.school, where she leads the international Shadow a Student Challenge and delivers innovative professional development to educators through Discover Design Thinking workshops. Devon began her career in education as an AmeriCorps VISTA, working at a non-profit that matches low-income middle school students in workplace-based apprenticeships. It was during this experience that Devon was able to see the power of inspiring students through hands-on, experiential learning, and realized the need to engage with educators to catalyze change in schools. Devon feels lucky to work with the K12 Lab Network where every day she is surrounded by educators striving to improve the world around them for their students. Devon holds a Bachelor's degree in International Studies from the University of San Francisco. 

Date(s)

1 February 2024
2 February 2024

Speakers

Devon Young, design school’s K12 Lab, Stanford University, CA, US; Peter Worth, Educational Consultant, former co-director of the School Retool, project of the Stanford University d.school, CA, US

Description

OVERVIEW

The Advanced Module builds upon your experience in Design Thinking for Education, enabling you to take a significant step forward towards achieving equitable and sustainable results. It empowers you to become a catalyst for implementing Design Thinking within your school, and the broader community.

This module is designed for individuals who have already been introduced to design thinking and are now prepared to delve deeper into its principles. Participants will apply human-centered design thinking mindsets and practices to their real-life work in educational settings, while exploring new content, tools, and mindsets through the lens of equity.

In this studio, you will find the necessary structure, support, collaboration, and coaching to make substantial progress towards becoming a catalyst for design thinking within your school.

Given the emphasis on co-design in this session, we strongly encourage the formation of school-based teams consisting of 2 to 5 members.

Date(s)

11 March 2024
12 March 2024
13 March 2024

Speakers

Markos Zangas-Tsakiris, Consultant-Trainer at Inside-out Nature, Denmark.

Description

Overview

Forest schools and outdoor learning. The Scandinavian tradition of using nature and outdoor environment as a learning resource. Full immersion in the outdoors; active hands-on learning experiences in a natural environment that promotes self-esteem, co-operation, and risk-taking. Built on the children’s natural instinct to explore the world through active and physical interactions. Built on the need to take risks: the foundation of learning, confidence and autonomy.

An interactive hands-on course to equip the participants

  • With the tools to transform a school’s outdoor environment into a "nature classroom".
  • With the skills to implement effective outdoor education.

Participants will have the opportunity to learn through an outdoor experience in a urban forest.

 

Program

Day 1.   Forest and Nature School Pedagogy

Day 2.   A day in a Urban Forest: immersive experience in Forest and Outdoor Schools   

Practices

Day 3.   Starting or Upgrading a Forest and Nature School program

 

Guest Speaker

The course will be conducted by the following expert lead facilitator and outdoor trainer: 

Markos Zangas-Tsakiris

Markos is a consultant-trainer at Inside-Out Nature, leading Danish Forest & Nature School training and consultancy organization. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of La Verne, California, an MA in Environment from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Diploma in Education for Sustainable Development from the University of the Aegean, Greece. He has worked in outdoor and environmental education with the Greek Bear Sanctuary, Organization Earth, and Planet Agents. He runs the Forest and Nature school program at Paichnidagogeio preschool and elementary school in Athens, Greece, where he coordinates the Primary School and nature program for all ages. Since 2004 he has worked in environmental education with a number of NGO's and as a kayak instructor, taking children on outdoor adventures. Markos is passionate about the outdoors, he is more passionate about offering children opportunities to be outdoors and he is even more passionate about inspiring and "equipping" pedagogues to use the outdoors as a learning environment.

Date(s)

14 March 2024
15 March 2024

Speakers

Markos Zangas-Tsakiris, Consultant-Trainer at Inside-out Nature, Denmark.

Description

Overview

The Advanced Forest Schools and Outdoor Nature Education module builds on the knowledge, and experience gained on the first module to take a substantive step forward in outdoor education for sustainable results. The module equips the participants with the tools to become “outdoor catalysts'' in their schools, and the broader community. During the three days of theory, practice, group work, and discussions, participants enrich their outdoor practice with new skills, ideas and tools; strengthen their competencies as leaders/managers of outdoor programs. We focus on networking, sustainability, and inclusion; disseminating advanced knowledge on forest-outdoor education for the participants to become experts leaders and accelerators of outdoor inclusive education.

A dynamic, interactive and immersive course. Participants will have the opportunity to learn through an outdoor experience forest

Program

Day 1.  Outdoor Leadership part 1  -  Inclusion  -  Environmental sustainability

- Developing the outdoor culture of your setting. 

Weaving your outdoor program into your setting’s pedagogy. 

Managing and leading a team of pedagogues, children, and parents in nature. 

-  Inclusion in outdoor education  +   Environmental sustainability Issues

Inclusion in outdoor education

how to address gender patterns and how to include children with mobility challenges and non neurotypical children when in nature

- Environmental sustainability Issues

how to assess and address the environmental impact of your outdoor program

- Tailor-made sessions based on pre-course questionnaires.  

 

Day 2.   A day in a Forest  -   Outdoor leadership part 2

Outdoor skills

Outdoor leadership part 2. 

Team management scenarios.

Outdoor games and activities. Using ropes.

 

Audience 

The course is designed for participants of the 1st module who wish to further explore outdoor education and forest school. Other applications will be assessed based on prior education, training and/or experience with children outdoors.

Guest Speaker

The course will be conducted by the following expert lead facilitator and outdoor trainer: 

Markos Zangas-Tsakiris

Markos is a consultant-trainer at Inside-Out Nature, leading Danish Forest & Nature School training and consultancy organization. He holds a BSc in Economics from the University of La Verne, California, an MA in Environment from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and a Diploma in Education for Sustainable Development from the University of the Aegean, Greece. He has worked in outdoor and environmental education with the Greek Bear Sanctuary, Organization Earth, and Planet Agents. He runs the Forest and Nature school program at Paichnidagogeio preschool and elementary school in Athens, Greece, where he coordinates the Primary School and nature program for all ages. Since 2004 he has worked in environmental education with a number of NGO's and as a kayak instructor, taking children on outdoor adventures. Markos is passionate about the outdoors, he is more passionate about offering children opportunities to be outdoors and he is even more passionate about inspiring and "equipping" pedagogues to use the outdoors as a learning environment.

Date(s)

5 June 2024
6 June 2024
7 June 2024

Speakers

Paola Trigari, Adjunct Professor, GSEM, University of Geneva; International Educational Consultant.

Description

Overview

- SOCIO-CONSTRUCTIVIST PROJECT APPROACH: a teaching method in which children gain knowledge and skills by working in groups for an extended period of time to investigate and respond to engaging and complex questions, problems, or challenges. Authentic learning building on the children natural curiosity, disposition to discover, enabling them to question, connect and problem-solve and to become active participants and shapers of their worlds.
- DESIGN THINKING: How the children adopt the DESIGN THINKING methods, and mindsets, to solve problems through empathy, interviews, feedback, prototyping, and iterative processes.
- An interactive course providing concrete strategies to ensure the children inquiry-based thinking, the peer’s social construction of knowledge and the children’s long term engagement. Each strategy is discussed through videos of actual examples of long term investigations from European and American project based and socio-constructivist preschools and primary schools.
 

Guest Speaker

 

Paola Trigari,

Adjunct Professor, GSEM, University of Geneva; International Educational Consultant.

Paola Trigari is adjunct professor at the University of Geneva, and an international educational consultant on Project Based Education, Constructivism, Social-Constructivism, and the Reggio Emilia-inspired educational philosophy.

Paola is co-Director of the CAS Economics and Pedagogy of ECE; she has designed and launched the program.

Paola holds seminars and consulting appointments throughout the U.S., e.g. New York, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois; and in Europe, e.g. Switzerland and Spain.

She consults for preschools to primary and secondary schools, and collaborates with universities and pedagogical institutions. She is the co-director of a new post-graduate program in Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Paola worked as pedagogical director and program director of the Reggio inspired Inquiry based International Italian School in San Francisco (La Scuola of SF).

Paola holds a MSc in economics from UPF (Barcelona) with a final thesis on the Returns to Education. She has an International background: native of Italy, grew up in Turin (Italy), Paris (France) and Sâo Paulo (Brazil). She then lived and worked in London (UK), San Francisco, Barcelona and New York. Italian native speaker, Paola is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Date(s)

20 November 2024
21 November 2024
22 November 2024

Speakers

Tiziana Filippini, Pedagogical Coordinator, Reggio Children; Jill Popp. Senior Research Specialist, LEGO Foundation, Denmark.

Description

Overview

Building Brain Architecture through Play (Jill Popp, LEGO Foundation) - Day 1

During this interactive and hands-on course we will discuss the importance of play for children’s holistic development. We will start by exploring the science of early childhood and the importance of building core skills through play. Then we will reflect on research and approaches from the LEGO Foundation and its global academic partners on the benefits of play and effective approaches to facilitate play activities with young children.

The Reggio Emilia approach to Education and Progettazione (Tiziana Filippini, Reggio Children)- Day 2-3

We will focus on the concept of Progettazione, an organic and flexible approach in designing the learning experiences. We will delve into the strategies for observing, documenting, and listening closely to the processes of children’s inquiry; reflecting on observations to sustain and re-ignite the children’s interest; planning meaningful provocations that enable children to test their theories as related to their inquiry. We will explore the role of the teachers as researchers. 

 

Program Day 1 (Jill Popp, LEGO Foundation)

  • Part 1: Brain Architecture

Through a playful approach we will reflect on the role of genetics and experiences to build children’s brain. In small groups we will consider the role that adults (parents, caregivers, teachers) have in supporting children’s development by promoting positive interactions, providing a supportive environment and reducing sources of toxic stress. 

  • Part 2: Learning through play

Introduction to learning through play and the existence evidence of the benefits of play for children’s development. 

We will spend time learning through play and reflecting on the skills that children can develop when engaged in play activities

  • Part 3: Play Facilitation

We will review the evidence on the role of adults when facilitating play experiences for children. As a group we will define the main characteristics of meaningful play facilitation and the barriers that educators face.

  • Part 4: Let’s practice

In groups, you will be required to design and facilitate play experiences that would have a positive impact on children’s development 

Date(s)

22 January 2025
23 January 2025
24 January 2025

Speakers

Carolyn Staudt, Senior Scientist, The Concord Consortium, US. ;  Nathan Kimball, Curriculum Developer, The Concord Consortium, US.

Description

Overview

 

Constructing Digital Learning Environments in Early childhood and Primary Education 

Early learners have significant—and highly untapped—potential for understanding abstract concepts and reasoning in sophisticated ways. Research has shown that technology offers powerful support for conceptual science learning in the early grades. This workshop will provide hands-on experience with a broad array of technologies designed for early childhood learning. The Concord Consortium (concord.org) has developed a wide variety of models and sensors that can be used by children in a collaborative way to provide students with tools for inquiry. We will share our eight-year journey developing dynamic apps and technology-enriched activities that use models and probes to help kindergarten students develop an understanding of temperature and the particle nature of matter. These digital technologies will support discovery, experimentation, and engineering and science connections to the real world. We plan that participants will work with kindergarten students introducing these apps and activities to see student learning firsthand. This seminar will emphasize discussion and relevance to participant's needs and experiences. 

Date(s)

26 March 2025
27 March 2025
28 March 2025

Speakers

Pietro Biroli, professor of Economics, Uni. of Zurich; co-researchers of Nobel Laureate J. Heckman's  on evaluating Reggio approach; Maria Ortega-Hesles, Ed.D. (Harvard), World Bank consultant; Daniela Del Boca, Professor of Economics, Uni. of Turin

Description

Overview

 

We provide the tools to design and to effectively measure interventions: any education program needs a sound technical design as well as a good monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan.This course will equip participants with the basic tools to design education programs at the school, regional or state level, and to create a MEL plan that can be incorporated into their common activities. The participants will put in practice the tools learned using a case study others.

We analyze selected interventions around the world, focusing on a number of early childhood interventions in the United States, Latin and Central America. For example discussion of Professor James J. Heckman's, Nobel Prize, and his team from Chicago work. We address potential inequality in familial and educational environments of young children; also discuss projects involving the famous Abecedarian and Perry Preschool Projects, as well as many others. We will cover the impact on Cognitive and non-cognitive Skills. The focus is on a deep understanding of interventions in early childhood education; discussing the current evidence on returns to investments in education, and its impact on the importance of early childhood education, versus higher education, for a variety of adult incomes.

 

Daniela Del Boca, Professor of Economics, University of Turin - 1 Lecture
Multidimensional Early Childhood interventions in Developed Countries
NYC (US), Turin, UK and Reggio Emilia
 

Maria Ortega-Hesles, Ed.D. (Harvard University), World Bank consultant and DIA Institute M&E Director

 

Design, Monitoring and Evaluation of Education Programs (May 30, June 1, 2023)

 

Is the design of the program adequate? Is the program being implemented as planned? Are we seeing the intended results? How can the program be improved? All of them are common questions that practitioners ask themselves at different moments and the reason why any education program, regardless of its magnitude and objective, needs a sound technical design as well as a good monitoring, evaluation and learning (MEL) plan. 

This practical course will equip participants with the basic tools to design education programs at the school, regional or state level and to create a MEL plan that can be incorporated into their common activities. The participants will put in practice the tools learned using a case study. In addition, the concepts covered in the course will help participants to learn how to interpret the results other studies to learn from best practices. The main objectives of the courses include: understand the principles for the design, monitoring and evaluation of an education program; recognize the importance of evaluation for accountability and program improvement; comprehend the difference between types of evaluation; develop tools (i.e. needs assessment, theory of change, MEL plan) that can be adapted into their practice.

 

 

  • Day 1 :  How do we design an education program?

Learn the relevance of designing programs based on a needs-assessment and theory of change. Develop and discuss the causal tree and theory of change for the case study.   

 

Topics: diagnostic of needs, components of the causal tree and the theory of change, difference between monitoring and evaluation, construction of indicators, selection and piloting of instruments.

 

  • Day 2 : How to monitor and evaluate an education program?

Identify the tools for program monitoring. Define what, how and how many to evaluate. Draft a basic MEL plan for the case study.

 

Topics: fidelity of implementation, types of evaluations (processes, impact, cost-efficiency), sample size, data collection, selection or creation of instruments, contingency plan, interpretation of results, evidence-based learning. 

 

 

Pietro Biroli, assistant professor of Economics, University of Zurich 

Returns to investments in early childhood: an economic perspective

 

These two lectures will present a review of the economic literature estimating the returns to investment in early childhood. The first lecture will provide a general framework for understanding the costs and the benefits of investing time and money in the enrichment of the first years of a child's life. The second lecture will critically discuss the current evidence on the returns to such investments, both in terms of parenting choices within the family, and public investment in early childhood education. 

 

 

Giacomo De Giorgi, Professor of Economics, IEE/GSEM, University of Geneva

Selected Evidence on Early Childhood Interventions

 

Several countries around the world have experimented with educational interventions target to early childhood and beyond. We will go through the journey of some influential educational policies around the world.

Date(s)

14 May 2025
15 May 2025
16 May 2025

Speakers

George E. Forman, (online) Emeritus Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, US. Former Researcher at Harvard’s Project Zero. Paola Trigari, Adjunct Professor, GSEM, University of Geneva; International Educational Consultant.

Description

Overview

Video Analysis-Documentation-Constructivism. Visible thinking and video recording.

Discussion and practice of video analysis as one of the most effective tool for designing project based curricula and comprehensive interventions and educational models.

A tool for supporting capacity development through self reflective practices; to make children’s thinking visible and engage in research; to adopt reflective practices and help children reflect on their own thinking; to understand the children’s constructive learning, and to re-launch their theories within a constructivist project oriented education.

 

Program

Day 1   Video analysis to support the child's construction of knowledge 

To understand is to Invent: Defining constructivism

Reflective thinking: The contrast between reasoning and remembering 

Verbs vs Nouns: The advantages of video over photography

Ordinary Moments: Using video to find high-level thinking.

Breakout sessions - Hands-on work with selected video clips

 

Day 2   Making thinking visible to the learner and to others 

Seeing Intentions - The power of instant video revisiting

Drawing to Learn - The importance of representing things incorrectly

The Democratization of Documentation - Video allows for constructive debate

Breakout sessions - Drawing to learn activity in class 

Analysis of making thinking visible video 

 

Day 3   Your own application of video analysis and constructivism 

Thinking about children's thinking instead of achievements 

The faith to question what we know

The belief in depth over breath

Program commitment to video analysis and documentation 

Certainties regarding teaching and learning 

An issue of values, culture and training

Breakout sessions 

  • Listing and defining barriers and solutions 
  • Making our plans explicit with a look toward change

 

Guest Speakers

George E. Forman, Ph.D.

George E. Forman is Emeritus Professor at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst and President of Videatives, Inc. George has written books that extend the theory of Jean Piaget to early childhood education: The Child’s Construction of Knowledge and Constructive Play. He was president of the Jean Piaget Society from 1983 to 1985. George has also published books in the areas of early cognitive development and the educational value of digital media for young children. He worked for four years on Harvard’s Project Zero early symbolization project as head of block play research. Since 1986, George has worked with the city of Reggio Emilia, Italy, to bring their educational philosophy to prominence in the United States by producing three documentary videos and coediting three editions of The Hundred Languages of Children (C. Edwards, L. Gandini, and G. Forman). He coinvented The Gravity Wall, a patented reconfigurable rollway found in over 300 children’s museums worldwide. He has designed new media formats that layer computer graphics and digital video as hyperlinks under text. Upon retirement in 2003, he cofounded Videatives, Inc., to distribute these new digital formats to early childhood professionals.

 

Paola Trigari

Adjunct Professor, GSEM, University of Geneva; International Educational Consultant.

Paola Trigari is adjunct professor at the University of Geneva, and an international educational consultant on Project Based Education, Constructivism, Social-Constructivism, and the Reggio Emilia-inspired educational philosophy.

Paola is co-Director of the CAS Economics and Pedagogy of ECE; she has designed and launched the program.

Paola holds seminars and consulting appointments throughout the U.S., e.g. New York, New Jersey, California, Pennsylvania, Illinois; and in Europe, e.g. Switzerland and Spain.

She consults for preschools to primary and secondary schools, and collaborates with universities and pedagogical institutions. She is the co-director of a new post-graduate program in Early Childhood and Primary Education at the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Paola worked as pedagogical director and program director of the Reggio inspired Inquiry based International Italian School in San Francisco (La Scuola of SF).

Paola holds a MSc in economics from UPF (Barcelona) with a final thesis on the Returns to Education. She has an International background: native of Italy, grew up in Turin (Italy), Paris (France) and Sâo Paulo (Brazil). She then lived and worked in London (UK), San Francisco, Barcelona and New York. Italian native speaker, Paola is fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

Admission criteria

  • A university degree or equivalent
  • At least 3 years of professional experience
  • English basic

Contribution to the SDGs

Goal 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all Goal 5: Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls Goal 8: Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all Goal 10: Reduce inequality within and among countries