The first phase of the project took place in person on the US campus, while the final stage will occur in spring, when SUPSI will welcome the Penn State group to Lugano for the closing presentations. For many participants, the week in the United States represents their first step into an international academic dimension, designed to encourage mutual understanding and lay the foundations for subsequent remote collaboration.
Professor Sandro Pedrazzini, Head of the Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science Engineering, together with lecturers Amos Brocco and Oliver Villa, who accompanied the group, emphasise that the initiative forms part of SUPSI’s commitment to promoting an education that is open to the world. They also express their appreciation for the enthusiasm and collaborative spirit demonstrated by all the participants.
The SUPSI International Office likewise highlights the value of a context in which students are invited to engage with different working methodologies and to develop intercultural awareness, an essential competence in a global professional landscape.
“Alongside the academic aspects, which at this stage focused on analysing the requirements of the various projects we will be working on remotely throughout the semester, the experience in the United States allowed us to discover everyday campus life and the local culture.”
These are the words of Andrea Pezzolla, one of the participating students, who recalls the warm welcome received as the most representative moment: “We were greeted with extraordinary warmth, and the group dance session on the first day was the perfect way to break the ice. A spontaneous gesture that transformed a group of strangers into a team ready to collaborate.”
Andrea also recalls the commitment shown by the American colleagues: “During the final presentation, they wanted to introduce themselves in Italian, asking us for help with the pronunciation. It was a gesture of great academic courtesy.”
The informal side of the experience proved equally meaningful: “Super Bowl evenings, birthday celebrations, chats over a pizza after the pub, simple moments that created genuine bonds that transcend geographical boundaries.”
The collaboration also made it possible to observe how cultural differences influence group work, a central theme of the project dedicated to raising awareness about food waste. This exchange, Andrea explains, “showed the importance of listening to perspectives different from one’s own in order to build inclusive and truly global solutions.”