A long-standing partnership between Honda Italia and ITS Academy: over 15 years of collaboration that fully embody a relationship built on vision, continuity and trust. Since the establishment of ITS in 2010, Honda Italia has believed in the value and potential of the dual education model—at the time highly innovative within the Italian landscape—supporting it with conviction and awareness, and recognising it as a concrete tool for developing high-level technical and professional skills.
On these foundations, and in line with an approach that has always been focused on people development, this year Honda Italia and ITS Academy launched an extensive joint design effort involving all company departments and the ITS staff. This process led to the creation of a tailored programme, designed to train advanced technicians capable of operating across various areas of the plant, from industrial automation and robotics to maintenance and advanced mechatronics.
A strategic investment in skills and people
Un nuovo corso orientato all'innovazione
“Following the cybersecurity course developed in collaboration with Leonardo S.p.A.,” states Giuseppe Ranalli, President of the ITS Academy and the Automotive Innovation Hub, “and the signing of this agreement with Honda, we have further confirmation of the high quality achieved by the educational offering of the ITS Academy Meccanica e Informatica Abruzzo. It also represents an additional opportunity for high-level training and quality employment for young people in Abruzzo. The support of companies of this calibre, together with many others, has enabled the ITS Academy in Lanciano to become a national benchmark, transforming the Val di Sangro and the Abruzzo region into a true centre of excellence for training in mechanics, mechatronics and ICT.”
“The newly designed course will begin in November 2026,” adds Antonio Maffei, Director of the ITS Academy, “and will be titled ‘Higher Technician for Industrial Automation and Robotics – Advanced Technician for Industry 4.0 in collaboration with Honda Italia S.p.A.’. It will total 1,800 hours, admission will be through a selection process and, like all ITS courses, it will be free of charge. Online pre‑enrolment is already open. Students will have the opportunity to explore topics covered in the classroom directly within the company, working in teams alongside highly qualified technicians and benefiting from knowledge transfer; they will also have a preferential pathway to carry out their project work (internship) within the Japanese company.”
Ensuring continuity for a forward‑looking project
Many ITS students already carry out their project work at the Atessa plant, and a very high percentage of them are subsequently offered permanent positions. This new initiative will create an even more direct link between classroom and factory, fostering closer collaboration with the ITS Academy also in the areas of career guidance, selection and soft skills development throughout the training programme.
Honda Italia, together with the Automotive Innovation Hub, was among the promoters of the ITS Academy Meccanica, Meccatronica e Informatica in Lanciano (then known as ITS Sistema Meccanica). Having been pioneers in 2010 and continuing to invest in tailored training pathways demonstrates the Japanese company’s forward‑looking vision and strong commitment to social responsibility. Contributing to the development of future skills internally, rather than simply sourcing them from the labour market, represents a significant investment by the company in younger generations and in the local area.
