The fifth edition of the regional spin-off of Didacta Italia, Italy’s leading event dedicated to educational innovation and the future of schools, will open on Wednesday, 21 October, at the Lancianofiera exhibition centre in Lanciano (Chieti). The event will run until Friday, 23 October.

The opening ceremony will take place at 10:00 a.m. in the “Gabriele D’Annunzio” Main Hall (Contrada Iconicella, 1). Speakers will include Lanciano Mayor Filippo Paolini; Abruzzo Regional Councillor for Education Roberto Santangelo; Firenze Fiera President Lorenzo Becattini; INDIRE President Francesco Manfredi; Director General of the Abruzzo Regional School Office Massimiliano Nardocci; and Didacta International President Hans Joachim Prinz. The proceedings will be moderated by Anna Paola Concia, Coordinator of the Didacta Italia Organising Committee.

The ceremony will also feature two musical interludes performed by students from music high schools across Abruzzo.

A packed programme of events will get underway on the very first day, featuring a wide range of training activities for teachers, school leaders and administrative staff.

Among the highlights, at 9:30 a.m. in the Silone Pavilion, INDIRE will host the seminar “Community Education Pacts: Rethinking School as a Common Good”. A strategic tool for building partnerships between schools and local stakeholders, tackling school dropout rates and educational inequalities, and promoting inclusion, Community Education Pacts will be the focus of an in-depth discussion on their contribution to pedagogical, organisational and institutional innovation in schools. Particular attention will be paid to strengthening educational networks in inland areas and more vulnerable communities.

At 2:00 p.m. in the Main Hall, a meeting dedicated to local government representatives from Abruzzo, Marche and Molise will take place, organised by INDIRE and the Ministry of Education and Merit (MIM). The event will provide an opportunity to discuss the role of local authorities in education policy and explore synergies between institutions to support local development and improve the quality of school services.

In the afternoon, at 4:30 p.m., the #socialprof area in the Flaiano Pavilion will host the presentation of Carmen Dal Monte’s book, “School in the Age of AI: Understanding, Choosing and Governing Artificial Intelligence in Education”. The topic will be addressed from a strategic perspective, with the aim of helping school leaders and teachers understand and manage artificial intelligence rather than uncritically chasing technological innovation. The discussion will highlight how AI does not replace schools but instead makes the pedagogical, organisational and educational choices that guide their work even more visible. Alongside the author, speakers will include Giovanni Biondi, Head of the Didacta Italia Scientific Programme, and Anna Paola Concia.

The programme presented by the Abruzzo Region is equally rich. At 10:00 a.m. in the Celestino V Pavilion, the region’s calls for proposals will be presented, with a focus on the opportunities available to the education sector in 2026. The Department of Social Affairs, Local Authorities and Culture will outline regional calls for proposals, measures and initiatives supporting schools, students and local communities, explaining their objectives and areas of intervention. This will be an opportunity to learn about the tools and resources being made available to strengthen the right to education, inclusion and the quality of educational provision.

Regional School Offices (USRs) will also play a leading role throughout the three-day event. In addition to contributing to the scientific programme, they have made a significant contribution to the exhibitors’ programme. The Marche Regional School Office will host no fewer than 33 events at its stand and bring the “The School That Innovates” competition to the exhibition. The initiative aims to recognise and reward the three most innovative schools in the Marche region.

Numerous events are also planned at the joint stand shared by Abruzzo and Molise, which will showcase projects, initiatives and collaborative programmes involving the two regions. This will provide an opportunity to connect experiences, share best practices and promote joint projects in support of schools and learning communities.

DIDACTA ITALIA – Abruzzo Edition is organised by Firenze Fiera and supported by an Organising Committee coordinated by Anna Paola Concia. The committee comprises the Ministry of Education and Merit; the Abruzzo Region; the municipalities of Lanciano and L’Aquila; the Regional School Offices of Abruzzo, Molise, Marche and Puglia; the “G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara; the University of L’Aquila; the University of Teramo; Abruzzo ITS Academy; ITS Moda Pescara; ITS Academy L’Aquila; the Academy of Fine Arts of L’Aquila; ITS Agroalimentare Teramo; ITS Most Academy; and ITS Mark.

Scientific partner: INDIRE.

Partner: Didacta International.

Exhibition opening hours

• 21 and 22 October: 9:00 a.m. – 6:30 p.m.
• 23 October: 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

www.fieradidacta.it

#didactaAbruzzo26

The Lancianofiera exhibition centre can be reached by car, train or shuttle service.

Find out more: https://fieradidacta.indire.it/it/come-raggiungerci-edizione-abruzz