Category: International

AANT in Madrid for UDIT’s International Week

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
International

From March 23 to 26, AANT took part in the International Week hosted by UDIT – Universidad de Diseño, Innovación y Tecnología – in Madrid, an event dedicated to international academic exchange, the sharing of teaching practices, and the creation of new connections between institutions. UDIT, a partner of AANT since 2024, is now recognized as the first and only Spanish university specializing in Design, Innovation and Technology, and with this first edition of its International Week, it brought together more than 30 participants from 22 universities and 15 countries.

Throughout the week, the programme featured academic presentations, workshops and masterclasses, visits to the university’s two campuses, meetings with students, and access to various laboratories and learning spaces. It was a dynamic and international setting, designed to encourage dialogue among academics and professionals, foster new opportunities for collaboration, and strengthen an increasingly open and shared vision of higher education.

The participation of Gianna Angelini, Head of International Office, represented an important opportunity for AANT to engage and connect within a broad and highly qualified international network. Experiences such as this help strengthen AANT’s European positioning and expand opportunities for exchange, shared project development, and growth for the academic community.

AANT’s presence at UDIT’s International Week is part of a coherent and ongoing path of international openness, which in recent months has also seen the Academy active in other strategic contexts, from Valencia to Prague and Gothenburg. It is a constant effort that strengthens relationships, creates new opportunities for collaboration, and confirms AANT’s commitment to playing an active role in the European spaces of education, creativity, and innovation.

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AANT at the ICDChallenge 2026

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
International
Three-year course

Following the success of last year’s edition, which saw AANT stand out on an international level with a winning project developed for Porsche, the Rome-based Academy returns to the spotlight at the International Creative Design Challenge (ICDChallenge).

 

This event represents far more than a competition: it is an immersive experience where design meets reality, testing skills, vision, and the ability to work in international contexts. The ICDChallenge is, in fact, a five-day design sprint in which students from different European universities collaborate to develop innovative solutions for a real client from the creative industry. Guided by international professors and professionals, participants go through all phases of the Design Cycle—from research and ideation to prototyping and testing, culminating in a final presentation to a panel of expert judges.

 

The 2026 edition, held from March 9 to 13 at the Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts (KdG) in Antwerp, saw AANT participate with two teams, each composed of five Design and Graphic Design students and guided by professors Giulia Magaldi and Hila Narducci: Gaia Piersanti, Arianna Basile, Marco Sabino Onofri, Aurora Conte, Victoria Tronciu, Giulia Nobiloni, Aurora Cinti, Irene Palluzzi, Martina Lanotte, Jacopo Parodi.

 

Other participating universities included: IADE (Portugal), Hanze University of Applied Sciences Groningen (Netherlands), Algebra Bernays University College (Croatia), Hochschule der Medien Stuttgart (Germany), and KdG (Belgium).

 

Throughout the week, days were structured around workshops, client sessions, and teamwork, while informal moments encouraged cultural and creative exchange among international students. A dynamic environment where designing also means learning to collaborate, adapt, and create impact. Taking part in the ICDChallenge means engaging with the contemporary challenges of design: working under pressure, transforming insights into concrete solutions, and developing projects capable of addressing complex social, cultural, and technological contexts.

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AANT launches BIP Week: three Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes underway

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
International

Starting today, Monday 2 March, and running until Friday 6 March, AANT opens its doors for BIP Week 2026—a week dedicated to internationalisation, academic exchange, and collaborative project development. The programme features three Erasmus+ Blended Intensive Programmes: the third edition of Light & the City, the second edition of Think, Prompt, Create, and the first edition of Secret Spaces. More than 80 students and faculty members will take part in the activities, arriving from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Spain, Belgium, France, and Croatia.

Now in its third edition, Light & the City offers a technical, educational, and experiential path devoted to Rome and to light as a design material. The programme brings photography and lighting design into dialogue and invites participants to interpret places, monuments, and urban landscapes through the transformations of light and an immersive on-site experience.

In its second edition, Think, Prompt, Create explores the transformative applications of generative artificial intelligence in communication, publishing, and the creative industries. Through online preparatory sessions, in-person workshops, and individual study, the programme combines technical skills with critical thinking, culminating in the production of a portfolio of projects developed with tools such as ChatGPT, Midjourney, and RunwayML.

Making its debut, Secret Spaces focuses on museums and lesser-known exhibition venues as places of inclusion, knowledge, and human and social development. The programme experiments with immersive and multisensory modes of engagement, integrating physical and digital devices; the first workshop is scheduled at the Centrale Montemartini Museum, where participants will also develop virtual reality experiences accessible via Oculus.

BIP Week brings together an international network of European partners. The partners involved are: VERN (Zagreb), IPCA (Barcelos), Polytechnic Institute of Portalegre, Hochschule der Medien (Stuttgart), L’École de design (Nantes), Algebra Bernays University (Zagreb), Artevelde (Ghent), and die Angewandte (Wien).

Until Friday 6 March, BIP Week will turn AANT into an international hub for dialogue, experimentation, and shared project work—reflecting the Erasmus+ BIP format, which combines virtual collaboration, short-term in-person mobility, and shared learning outcomes.

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Erasmus+ at AANT: Workshop on Gen AI, Identity and Human Rights

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
Events
International

On Thursday, February 12, AANT hosted the workshop “Faces Reconstructed: Generative AI, Identity and Human Rights”, as part of the Erasmus+ Dissemination Week promoted by Liceo Machiavelli in Rome. The initiative, included in the international week entitled “Portraits, Self-Portraits and Inscriptions: The Faces of Identity and Human Rights Across Time,” brought together an international group of 20 Erasmus+ students, 10 Italian, 5 German and 5 Swedish, accompanied by 4 international teachers, with a shared objective: to explore the role of the face, image and self-representation across historical eras and within emerging technologies.

Led in English by Professor Davide Cardea, the workshop offered a solid educational and hands-on experience focused on highly relevant topics: identity, power, human rights and visual representation in the digital age. The session combined historical reflection with practical experimentation, starting from AANT’s creative project “Frammenti”, developed to merge historical research, contemporary art and digital technologies, and culminating in the documentary “Il volto di Alessandro” (“The Face of Alexander”), broadcast on Italian national television (RAI). Students had the opportunity to directly engage with the customized GPT tool “Finding AM,” which was used to investigate the historically attributed features of Alexander the Great’s face, examine sources, clarify ambiguities and experiment firsthand with AI-assisted interpretative image processes.

The second part of the workshop focused on a product-driven approach: each participant translated their reflections into visual and conceptual outputs, working on reconstruction models, interpretative hypotheses and practical generative AI tools. This methodology made the experience not only theoretical, but tangibly creative and productive.

The day concluded with a collective presentation session, during which students shared and discussed their work, reflecting on their choices, limitations and the potential of the technologies used. The final discussion highlighted crucial issues, including the subtle boundary between historical reconstruction and deepfake, and more broadly the ethical responsibility connected to the use of artificial intelligence in representing the human face — a symbol of identity, memory and rights.

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AI Meets the SDGs. AI and the 2030 Agenda at the heart of the Stuttgart BIP

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
Events
International

A group of AANT students, together with Professor Davide Cardea, recently traveled to Stuttgart to take part in the BIP (Blended Intensive Programme) “AI Meets the SDGs.” This event represented an important opportunity for internationalization and experimental learning. In addition to students from the Academy’s three-year programs in Rome, it also involved participants from Stuttgart Media University in Stuttgart, Howest University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool West-Vlaanderen) in Kortrijk, the Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences (Hogeschool van Amsterdam) in Amsterdam, and Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok.

The program focused on creative design applied to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda, through multidisciplinary working groups made up of students with backgrounds in design, advertising, videomaking, programming, and marketing. The exchange among different skills and cultures fostered the development of projects capable of addressing real-world problems from multiple perspectives.

Within the BIP, particular attention was devoted to artificial intelligence as a tool to support the creative process, along with a critical reflection on the role of AI in contemporary design. For the students, the experience provided a concrete opportunity for growth and international exchange, confirming AANT’s commitment to an educational approach that integrates creativity, technological innovation, and social responsibility.

Below is the list of participating students:
 Fiore Sofia
 Lanotte Martina
 Nobiloni Giulia
 Onofri Marco Sabino
 Pagliano Gioia
 Porfirio Luca
 Portacci Paola Rita
 Pugliese Gaia
 Sambucci Elena
 Tosti Maria

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Game and Virtual Design: AANT Launches the New Academic Year’s Mobility Programme

Posted on by Alessandro Arnold
Erasmus+
Events
International

From 24 to 28 November 2025, AANT’s Game and Virtual Design coordinators, Simone Mari and Ennio Pirolo, will be in Stuttgart to take part in the International Week at Hochschule der Medien, officially inaugurating the mobility activities of the new academic year.
 The collaboration between AANT and the German university is now well established and, in addition to the usual short-term mobility opportunities for students and staff, this year also introduces long-term mobility options specifically dedicated to students.

The working week includes seminars, workshops, and interactive activities designed to provide participants with tools and strategies to develop innovative international collaborations. The programme will address several key topics, including:

  • promoting resilience to better recognise and manage stress related to university life; 
  • exploring the world of videogames from technical, creative, and cultural perspectives, through lectures held by experts from the gaming sector; 
  • presentations by HdM partner universities illustrating international study opportunities available to interested students. 

Internationalisation is a crucial element of AANT’s educational and research activities. The International Relations Office, led by the Head Prof. Gianna Angelini, supports and develops partnerships with foreign universities, promoting student and staff mobility and fostering genuine intercultural learning.

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GeniaLAB Officially Joins the CYANOTYPES European Pilot Network

Posted on by info@boomlab.it
geniaLAB
International
Ricerca

AANT is proud to announce that geniaLAB has been selected as one of the official Pilots of the European project CYANOTYPES – Strategic Skills for Creative Futures.

With this recognition, geniaLAB becomes part of an international network of institutions engaged in testing new approaches to education, research, and innovation in the cultural and creative sectors, contributing to the definition of future strategic competences.

CYANOTYPES is a project funded by the European Union under the Erasmus+ programme, involving over twenty partners including universities, training institutions, cultural and creative industries, innovation hubs, and European networks. Its goal is to develop a future-oriented competence ecosystem capable of responding to the challenges posed by the digital, green, and social transitions currently shaping the cultural sector as a whole.

What is geniaLAB. geniaLAB – short for Generative Intelligence, Artificial Life and Arts Laboratory – is AANT’s permanent hub for research and experimentation. It is an interdisciplinary lab dedicated to the critical and creative exploration of artificial intelligence, cognitive technologies, and their implications in art, design, culture, and society.

The lab’s statute defines an ambitious mission: not only to develop research and innovation projects, but also to rethink models of learning, knowledge production, and dissemination in the age of generative intelligence. GenIALab promotes a hybrid, embodied, and relational approach, combining speculative practices, design methodologies, and critical reflection.

What It Means to Be a CYANOTYPES Pilot. In the CYANOTYPES project, a Pilot is not just a teaching lab or a series of workshops—it is a strategic learning infrastructure that experiments with, tests, and adapts training approaches on a real-world scale.

Each Pilot is invited to integrate the CYANOTYPES Competence Framework—a set of 25 competences grouped into five “agency” clusters—into its research, education, or cultural production activities.

The Pilots are the operational core of CYANOTYPES: they are the spaces where theory meets practice, and where alternative models of learning, collaboration, and transdisciplinary design are tested.

geniaLAB’s Contribution to the Project. As a CYANOTYPES Pilot, GenIALab will activate a series of interlinked actions, including:

  • educational experiments on AI and generative design
  • speculative labs exploring future scenarios and prompt thinking methodologies
  • co-creation projects involving artists, researchers, and students
  • mapping activities of emerging competences
  • public events for dissemination and critical dialogue

All activities will be guided by the principles of triple-loop learning and will be evaluated in relation to their contribution to the CYANOTYPES Competence Framework—especially in the areas of regenerative agency, critical engagement with digital technologies, and the valorisation of ideas and ethical perspectives.

A European Challenge, A Local Responsibility. Joining CYANOTYPES as a Pilot means taking on a dual responsibility: contributing to the design of future competences for the entire European creative ecosystem, and at the same time generating value for the local community of reference—students, educators, professionals, industrial and cultural partners.

geniaLAB is committed to meeting this challenge through research rigour, project creativity, and an ethics of collaboration.

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AANT in Prague for the Creative Skills Week 2025

Posted on by info@boomlab.it
Events
International

The Creative Skills Week 2025 took place in Prague from 22 to 26 September, bringing together dozens of international professionals from the cultural and creative sector for an event dedicated to lifelong learning and the development of new skills. AANT participated in the initiative with a delegation composed of General Director Rossana Quarta and Scientific Director and Head of Internationalization Gianna Angelini. Our representatives actively took part in workshops and training sessions throughout the week, bringing the Academy’s voice to this important international context.

The event, organized by ELIA (European League of Institutes of the Arts) together with Creative Prague, addressed the urgent transitions currently shaping the creative sector – from digital transformation to the green shift, as well as the challenges posed by Artificial Intelligence and global socio-economic changes. These themes gathered educators, policymakers, artists, and sector leaders from across Europe, with the aim of sharing knowledge and promoting new approaches to lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling. The motto of the 2025 edition, “Create. Transform. Regenerate.”, reflects the shared commitment to building more adaptive, inclusive, and sustainable creative ecosystems in response to ongoing changes.

During the Creative Skills Week, the AANT delegation had the opportunity to directly explore new methodological approaches. In particular, on 23 and 24 September the CYANOTYPES Training was held, a hands-on program designed for educators, strategists, and cultural professionals, in which both Rossana Quarta and Gianna Angelini actively participated. The CYANOTYPES project represents an innovative European framework aimed at developing transversal creative skills and supporting more resilient, future-oriented educational programs. Thanks to this training, our representatives were able to explore cutting-edge teaching tools and acquire new ideas to be transferred into the Academy’s educational pathways.

The Prague week also proved to be an important opportunity for networking and the exchange of best practices. AANT’s representatives engaged with dozens of international experts, sharing the Academy’s experience in discussions and contributing to interactive sessions. These moments of dialogue fostered new contacts with colleagues from other countries and provided valuable insights to be brought back to the Academy, further enriching the knowledge base and innovative perspectives of our institution.

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AANT at EAIE 2025 in Gothenburg: new horizons for internationalization

Posted on by info@boomlab.it
Events
International

AANT took part in the 2025 Annual EAIE Conference, held from 9 to 12 September in Gothenburg, Sweden. Gianna Angelini, AANT’s Head of Internationalization and Scientific Director, represented the Academy at what is recognized as one of the premier international events in Europe in the field of higher education. The event welcomed over 7,000 professionals from more than 100 countries, providing a unique opportunity to strengthen global contacts, exchange ideas, and initiate new academic collaboration agreements.

During the conference, Gianna Angelini reconnected with many of AANT’s current international partners to plan activities for the new academic year. She also engaged in strategic meetings with representatives of other academic institutions and educational organizations, laying the groundwork for future developments in student mobility, joint research projects, and internship opportunities. These targeted meetings pave the way for new exchange agreements and joint projects, further expanding AANT’s global network of contacts.

Now in its 35th edition, the conference featured hundreds of sessions, workshops, presentations, and networking activities, giving participants a comprehensive overview of current trends and best practices in international education. The overarching theme “GO-create” challenged attendees to reflect on practices of collaboration, cooperation, and co-creation. Gothenburg’s renowned commitment to sustainability, inclusion, and innovation made it an ideal setting for mapping out the future of internationalization in higher education. Discussions throughout the event ranged from innovative approaches to building effective partnerships to strategies for enriching students’ learning experiences through global cooperation.

“Participating in EAIE 2025 was a significant opportunity for growth and exchange,” said Gianna Angelini at the conclusion of the event. “Reconnecting with our international partners and meeting new colleagues allowed us to solidify relationships and envision innovative projects to undertake together. We return to Rome with fresh ideas and concrete contacts, ready to develop collaborations that will further strengthen AANT’s international presence.”

The international outlook has always been a cornerstone for AANT, and attending EAIE 2025 reaffirms the Academy’s commitment to positioning itself in a global educational arena. The insights gained in Gothenburg and the connections established will help enrich the academic experience of both students and faculty, while also fueling AANT’s growth in line with its educational mission. Events like EAIE serve as strategic platforms for the Academy to reinforce partnerships and demonstrate AANT’s dedication to international academic cooperation.

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AANT at the NAFSA 2025 Conference in San Diego: Internationalization in Focus

Posted on by info@boomlab.it
Events
International

AANT took part in the Annual NAFSA 2025 Conference, held from May 27 to 30 in San Diego, California. Gianna Angelini, AANT’s Head of Internationalization, represented the Academy at what is recognized as the world’s largest and most dynamic international event in the field of higher education. Approximately 8,000 professionals from over 100 countries attended the conference, which offered a unique opportunity to forge global contacts, exchange ideas, and initiate new academic collaboration agreements.

During the conference, Gianna Angelini participated in numerous networking sessions and strategic meetings with representatives of academic institutions and international educational organizations. These targeted encounters laid the groundwork for future exchange agreements and joint projects, further strengthening AANT’s global network of contacts. The face-to-face meetings with peers from around the world allowed AANT to explore collaborative opportunities and broaden its reach in international academia.

The conference featured over 250 sessions, workshops, presentations, and networking activities, providing participants with a comprehensive overview of current trends, strategies, and best practices in international education. The overarching theme “Purpose, Place, and Partnership” ran through every moment of the event, underscoring the importance of creating sustainable opportunities for students worldwide through meaningful partnerships. It also emphasized sharing diverse perspectives and innovative educational approaches to enrich global learning experiences.

Key topics addressed at NAFSA 2025 included:

  • Inclusive internationalization – ensuring that international education opportunities are accessible and equitable for all students.
  • Development of global academic collaborations – building partnerships between institutions across countries to foster academic exchange and joint programs.
  • The role of international education in fostering intercultural understanding and cooperation among peoples – highlighting how studying abroad and cross-border educational initiatives can promote cultural awareness and global cooperation.

In this context, AANT’s participation allowed the Academy to align with the latest global trends and to share its own educational expertise in the field of arts and new technologies on a high-profile international stage. By engaging with these themes firsthand, AANT demonstrated that it remains at the forefront of international education initiatives and is committed to incorporating these best practices into its programs.

“Participation in NAFSA 2025 has been an extremely enriching experience,” commented Gianna Angelini at the end of the conference. “Meeting colleagues from all over the world and sharing visions and ideas allowed us to imagine new prospects for collaboration. I return to Rome with concrete contacts and innovative projects to develop, ready to further strengthen AANT’s international footprint.”

The international dimension has always been a pillar for AANT, and attending NAFSA 2025 reaffirms the Academy’s commitment to positioning itself in a global educational landscape. The insights gathered in San Diego and the relationships initiated there will help enrich the academic experience of both students and faculty, while also boosting AANT’s growth in line with its educational mission. Events like NAFSA serve as strategic platforms for the Academy to reinforce partnerships and demonstrate AANT’s dedication to academic cooperation at the international level, solidifying its role as a globally engaged institution.

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