NETCOM Research Group

Eight bilingual 16 year-old students from two different secondary schools located in Madrid, ‘IES Isaac Albéniz’ and IES San Nicasio, have joined IMDEA Networks Institute for a period of three days on an educational stay. IMDEA Networks thus enlists for the third consecutive year on a learning and training program promoted by the Regional Government of Madrid called ‘4ESO+empresa’ (4^th grade plus industry, in English). The aim of this program is to provide young students with a first point of contact with the realities of the workplace. This experience will allow them to observe and participate in the everyday tasks of the organization or company they join and get a feel for the world of work that awaits them in a not so distant future. Efforts such as this one are expected to improve training for young people and facilitate their integration into the labor market.

During their stay the students will be supervised by four experienced members of our research team: Dr. Antonio Fernández Anta, Dr. Domenico Giustiniano, Dr. Vincenzo Mancuso and Dr. Paolo Casari, as well as several other members of the IMDEA Networks research staff who are able to tell them what the life of a researcher is like and (perhaps) awaken their interest for a life in science.

On the final day of their stay, the students each received a certificate to acknowledge their participation in the event. Also, a small competition was organized in which each student was to write a short essay about their experience with and impression of IMDEA Networks. Before their last day ended the winner of the Best Essay Award was announced. Afterwards it was time to say goodbye and for the students to return to school again.

The eight students mixed in with the group of researchers and PhD students they have followed for the past three days.