Abstract:

In 2024, on the occasion of the 800th anniversary of the University of Naples Federico II—the oldest non-religious university in the world—Professor Valentina Della Corte, delegate of the Rector Matteo Lorito for the anniversary celebrations, promoted and organized an initiative within the framework of the program “Federico II with companies towards the future.” The initiative was developed in collaboration with Ferragamo, represented by Dr. Vincenzo Equestre (CEO EMEA), and was designed to foster a closer dialogue between academia and industry. Its primary objective was to support the development of both technical and transversal competencies among students, with particular attention to skills related to the fashion and luxury sector, as well as soft skills such as teamwork, problem-solving and effective presentation abilities.

The initiative took the form of a two-day event entitled “Federico II and Ferragamo.” During the first phase of the event, students were introduced to the fundamental characteristics of the luxury and high-fashion industry, including its strategic dynamics, values and challenges, as well as the history and identity of the Italian maison Ferragamo. In the second phase, students became active protagonists of the initiative: organized into multidisciplinary groups, they were asked to develop project proposals addressing real-world challenges related to the brand and the sector. These projects were subsequently presented and discussed in front of Dr. Vincenzo Equestre and Dr. Silvia De Pisapia (HR Specialist at Ferragamo). As a concrete outcome of the initiative, the members of the winning group were offered the opportunity to work for six-month within some of the company’s most important retail stores, representing a first professional experience and a direct entry point into the Ferragamo corporate environment and the dynamics that characterize the retail world.

This initiative provides a meaningful example of the growing efforts undertaken by universities in the context of so-called “Third Mission” (Terza Missione) activities. Such initiatives aim to strengthen the relationship between universities, local institutions, and socio-economic stakeholders, while also fostering knowledge transfer, employability, and mutual learning. More broadly, the case highlights the increasing interconnection between universities and companies, which has become essential for both parties in order to remain innovative, relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing economic landscape.

Against this background, this work aims to analyze the key success factors of the described initiative in order to identify which elements can be effectively replicated and which may require adaptation or improvement in future collaborations. In particular, the study focuses on assessing the outcomes of the initiative, with special attention to student satisfaction and perceived learning benefits. These results are examined through the lens of the main academic literature and existing research findings on University–Industry collaboration, with the goal of contributing to the broader debate on effective models of engagement between higher education institutions and the business sector.

Keywords:

University, Industry, Ferragamo, challenge, cooperation.