Ambassadors of Energy: UNISANNIO Honours Excellence in Engineering
On 15 May, at the headquarters of Confindustria Benevento, the University of Sannio held the award ceremony for the “Sannio Energy Ambassador” prize. This annual recognition is granted to a maximum of three outstanding graduates of the Master’s Programme in Energy Engineering at UNISANNIO who have taken on leadership roles in industry or academia.
The initiative aims to promote the university’s educational excellence in the energy sector and to spotlight the new generation of talents trained in its Energy Engineering programmes.
For Oreste Vigorito, President of Confindustria Benevento, meeting young students engaged in energy studies is a source of pride. He emphasised the strategic importance of the energy sector, which demands major investments and highly skilled professionals. Hosting the event at the “House of Entrepreneurs” highlights the value of fostering talent and excellence as the foundations for sustainable growth and innovation in energy engineering.
UNISANNIO’s Rector, Prof. Gerardo Canfora, highlighted the University’s early recognition of the strategic importance of the energy sector, reflected in its investment in a strong and innovative educational pipeline, including the Energy Engineering degree. He pointed to the continuous renewal of the curriculum, backed by high-quality research, as the key to staying competitive in a rapidly evolving field. Among the practical outcomes, he mentioned the NZEB (Nearly Zero Energy Building) house – a joint educational and research project showcasing innovation and energy efficiency.
The Rector also stressed the synergy between the energy and digital transitions, calling for a comprehensive educational system – from technical institutes to university – that can offer real opportunities to young people and provide businesses with the skills they need to face future challenges.
Prof. Alfredo Vaccaro, coordinator of the Energy Engineering programmes, opened the event by emphasising the University’s commitment to training professionals able to lead the energy transition. He noted the shift towards renewable energy sources and the importance of designing advanced, efficient, and sustainable systems. He also presented a spin-off founded by two UNISANNIO graduates as a model of successful collaboration between academia and industry.
The awardees of the 2024 edition were:
Antonello Martone – Senior Energy Efficiency Consultant, Energy Team S.p.A.
Introductory remarks: Maurizio Sasso (University of Sannio), Maria Gabriella Fedele (ITS Energy Lab)
Livia Pastore – Business Development, Greenfuels / Energy ESG, AXPO
Introductory remarks: Gaetano Continillo (University of Sannio), Linda Cennamo (G. Rummo Scientific High School)
Cosimo Pisani – Head of System Analysis, Dispatching and Operation Directorate, Terna Rete Italia S.p.A.
Introductory remarks: Daniele Davino (University of Sannio), Giovanni Marro (Principal, G. Bosco Lucarelli Technical Institute)
