The training offerings for professional development in the fields most in demand by the market are expanding, thanks to the support of Banca delle Terre Venete. Among the main new developments are the integration of software and technologies into more traditional courses and new Artificial Intelligence tracks organized by department, in collaboration with IMI Academy.
On Monday, June 8, the new training program for courses starting in September 2026 was presented at the Sportsystem Foundation: following the very positive experiences of recent years, this program is structured into multiple tracks and enriched with content to meet the sector’s increasingly sophisticated needs.
The courses are conceived and designed in collaboration with companies in the District to train and upskill the most strategic professionals, those who are hardest to find on the job market. The technical model maker course is divided into two distinct tracks: a basic course, suitable for those who wish to pursue a career that combines technical expertise and creativity, with immediate opportunities for employment in companies and design and prototyping studios; and an advanced course, designed for professionals already working in the sector who wish to advance their careers by acquiring new digital skills.
The CAD course, which has been one of the most successful courses for years, also offers two tracks. Alongside the 2D-3D CAD Technical Drafting course, suitable for both experienced and inexperienced individuals with a passion for technology and design, this year we are offering a VR and BLENDER CAD Technical Drafting course, focused on advanced modeling and animation and the development of interactive virtual experiences.
The advanced leatherworker course is back, training professionals who combine manual dexterity, precision, and knowledge of sewing techniques and materials to produce high-quality work; while, for the first time, a technical English course is being offered, designed to help students acquire the sector’s specialized vocabulary and gain confidence and speed in reading technical documents and communicating with English-speaking counterparts.
But the most significant development is the introduction of new Artificial Intelligence courses for the sports system, aimed at those responsible for deciding on, purchasing, managing, and implementing AI initiatives across various departments. The program, in collaboration with IMI Academy, consists of six different courses, including a general module and specialized modules for professionals in Marketing & Communication, HR, Administration, Operations, Sales, Design, and Quality.
During the presentation meeting, certificates of participation were also awarded to the 42 students from the 2025–26 academic year.
Over the past three years, the Sportsystem Foundation has trained more than 130 professionals, nearly 100% of whom have been able to find employment or retrain at companies in our region, helping to boost the competitiveness of the sports system on an international level.
Armando Cietto, Board Member in charge of training at Fondazione Sportsystem – For many years, Fondazione Sportsystem has been investing heavily in training the most strategic and in-demand professionals for our companies, because we know that updating our expertise, by integrating creativity, innovation, and digitalization—is essential for strengthening and growing our organization. I would like to thank our highly competent and cohesive faculty, composed of 30 professionals and university professors, who—thanks to an integrated approach combining theory and practice—successfully impart, with great passion and enthusiasm, skills that are immediately applicable in the real world. I also thank the Foundation’s working group that collaborated on the programs and training topics for the courses. Finally, special thanks go to Banca delle Terre Venete and to all the companies that support our training activities.
Gianfranco Sasso, President of Banca delle Terre Venete – We have chosen to wholeheartedly support the training programs offered by the Sportsystem Foundation because we believe that developing skills is a key driver of growth. Companies in the sports system district face increasingly complex challenges and need qualified professionals capable of combining manufacturing tradition with digital and technological innovation. Investing in training means creating concrete opportunities for young people and for those seeking to gain professional qualifications, thereby contributing to economic development and the competitiveness of businesses. Fostering this process is a responsibility we take seriously, and one that is fully in line with the mission of a bank deeply rooted in the local community.
Mirko Bassan, President of IMI Academy – Fondazione Sportsystem, is giving local companies the opportunity to build shared, cross-functional knowledge on the delicate and epoch-making topic of Artificial Intelligence. This approach allows for the development of a broad, shared vision capable of addressing the operational and strategic needs of individual companies, department by department, as well as those of the entire sports footwear district, which faces the shared challenge of digital transformation as a driver of competitiveness and innovation. We are delighted to collaborate with Fondazione Sportsystem in pursuit of our mission as a social enterprise: to promote the spread of a competent and responsable digital culture.
