2018 Macerata, Italy
X-Culture and University of Macerata
are proud to present
Global X-Culture Conference and Symposium, Italy 2018
“Culture & The Arts”
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Our partner corporations are
Nuova Simonelli S.p.A.
Nuova Simonelli S.p.A. is coffee machine producer. The company operates in 109 countries around the world, exporting 82% of all production. They have a subsidiary in the US with 75 million euro in gross sales.
Eurosuole S.p.A.
Eurosuole is a leading soles producer. The gross sales is 42 million euro and they export 30% of production. Currently they have 200 employees.
Cocci Grifoni Srl
Tenuta Cocci Grifoni is an Italian family vineyards and winery, which produces about 400,000 bottles of wine per year. The property extends over 95 hectares of land, 45 of which are vineyards almost entirely with native and ancient Italian vines and the rest is wooded area for natural restocking of the Mediterranean flora and fauna highly important for the biological cycle of the vines; 60% of production is exported. They continue to employ their 3-generation-family non-invasive winemaking techniques to ensure maximum varietal expression integrated with soil cultivation and preservation or active assistance of native biodiversity.
Macerata Opera Festival
The Arena Sferisterio Association, founded by the Municipality of Macerata and its Province, promotes and organizes the Macerata Opera Festival. The Macerata Opera operates the Sferisterio Arena. The Sferisterio Arena is unique in its shape and structure. It was designed in 1829 and was used as an opera theatre for the first time in 1921. The Sferisterio Arena is an open-air theatre and its 100-meter stage is one of the longest stages in Europe. The Arena has 2,500 seats (including 104 boxes).
DATES:
Sunday, July 29 – Saturday, August 4, 2018
LOCATION:
28 Via Giovanni Mario Crescimbeni Macerata MC, Italy 62100
NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS:
Limited to 150 Students & 50 Faculty
The selection process is competitive. Preference will be given to applicants who demonstrated excellence in past X-culture participation, but also with some consideration to maximize geographic and cultural diversity.
WINNERS
Cocci Grigfoni – Team 8
Alexander Lazaridis, Jorge Collado, Frankhunda Niazi, Kwashie
Eurosoule – Team 12:
Kham Saeng Xiong, Dennis Kercher, Kindra Idunoba
Nuova Simonelli Group – Team 20:
Gillian Chan, Dominique Scalisi, Dominic Gaspard, Lauren MacPherson
Marcerata Opera – Team 26:
Aaron Kriewald, Jordan Dane Poirier, Melodi Dandrea, Piyush Peeyoosh Shelke
Kids Academy – Eurosoule – Team 32:
Maxym Taras, Sofia Taras, Advay Jain, Fernando Benitez
PARTICIPANTS
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| Instructors | |
|---|---|
| Natalia Tomczewska-Popowycz | Poland |
| Abdulrahman Chikhouni | Canada |
| Valerie Bell | USA |
| Julio Cesar Martinez Suarez | Mexico |
| Indu Rao | India |
| Volodymyr Onofriychuk | Ukraine |
| Len Trevino | USA |
| Anna Svirina | Russia |
| Alexandrina Maria Pauceanu | Romania |
| Joy Schneer | United States |
| Bashayr Albalushie | Oman |
| Nataliya Acc-Nikmehr | United States |
| Marc Idelson | France |
| Inga Uus | Lithuania |
| Muhammad Ayaz | Pakistan |
| Ana Soares | Portugal |
| Aamir Khan | Pakistan |
| Chido Ukaigwe | Nigeria |
| Muhammad Ayaz | |
| Charles Bryant | United States |
| Reccia Charles | Trinidad and Tobago |
| Robert Stephens | USA |
| Neha Pathak | UK |
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| Aaron Kriewald | USA |
| Advay Jain | India |
| Aisha Khalif | Kenya |
| Alexander Lazaridis | USA |
| Allana Bowen | Grenada |
| Amy Elzik | USA |
| Ana Caren De Sousa | Brazil |
| Andre Zhen Wei Cheong | Malaysia |
| Angela Cvetinovic | Serbia |
| Anton Mang’Ea | Kenya |
| April Beaurivage | Canada |
| Ashley Turner | USA |
| Audrey Owusu-Gyamera | Ghana |
| Beverley Jeremiah | Grenada |
| Brittany Haubner | USA |
| Bruno Dias | Brazil |
| Carlo Alberto Calchera | Italy |
| Catherine Chow | Canada |
| Chelsea Patricio | Canada |
| Christina Zubrod | USA |
| Colin Murphy | Canada |
| Collin Boatman | USA |
| Dallis Jossa | Canada |
| Debra Njoroge | Kenya |
| Dennis Kercher | United Kingdom |
| Dominic Gaspard | Grenada |
| Dominique Scalisi | USA |
| Erika Lorena Rodriguez Uricoechea | Colombia |
| Esteban Betancur | Colombia |
| Farkhunda Niazi | Afghanistan |
| Fernando Benitez | Ecuador |
| Fernando Chonn | Peru |
| Fosu Francis | Ghana |
| Gennil Reuben | Grenada |
| George Macharia | Kenya |
| Gia Nhi La Mach | Vietnam |
| Gillian Chan | Canada |
| Hafsa Jaweed | Pakistan |
| Hanna Navila Setyanto | Indonesia |
| Henry Bett | Kenya |
| Henry Boore | United States |
| Irene Guidi | Italy |
| Jamie Duncan | Grenada |
| Jamison Lipps | USA |
| Javier Hernandez | Guatemala |
| Jessica Langer | USA |
| Jessica Marques | USA |
| Jhovany Quiroz | Peru |
| Jianying Zhu | China |
| Joice Benfica | Brazil |
| Jordan Poirier | Canada |
| Jorge Collado | USA |
| Joseph Hurst | USA |
| Joshua Colon Arroyo | USA |
| Julieth Paulini Angel | Colombia |
| Kevin Cheolhyun Bae | Canada |
| Kham S Xiong | USA |
| Kimberly Toledo Garcia | USA |
| Kindra Idunoba | USA |
| Kristen Oehm | USA |
| Kristin Brown | USA |
| Kusha Akbarpour | USA |
| Larry Williams | USA |
| Lashannon Lawson | USA |
| Lauren Macpherson | USA |
| Lilavanh Chittaphong | USA |
| Luis Lachos | USA |
| Marco Ottone | Italy |
| Margaret Bentkowski | USA |
| Maria Del Mar Chacon | Colombia |
| Marian Urteaga | Mexico |
| Marleen Bett | Kenya |
| Masha Phillip | Grenada |
| Matthew Wohlin | USA |
| Maxym Taras | |
| Mazin Alhabsi | Oman |
| Melanie Skayman | Canada |
| Melodi Dandrea | Italy |
| Meredith Theriot | USA |
| Miranda Hines | Canada |
| Muhammad Hamza | Pakistan |
| Natalia Margarita Ramirez Viveros | Colombia |
| Nicole Boykov | USA |
| Njeri Anastacia Hlutwa | Lesotho |
| Paige Raby | USA |
| Paulina Moran | Mexico |
| Piyush Shelke | India |
| Portia Allen | Canada |
| Qiuyu Gao | USA |
| Rehan Babar | Canada |
| Richard Fred Kwashie | Ghana |
| Rose Wanja Wachira | Kenya |
| Sahar Tariq | Pakistan |
| Samuel Paul | Grenada |
| Samuel Velazquez | Canada |
| Sarmad Masood | Pakistan |
| Scarlet Ferrer | Venezuela |
| Seigmar Quast Ansah | Ghana |
| Shamus Molloy | Canada |
| Shantell Mensah Kufuor | Ghana |
| Shauna Parish | USA |
| Shelvie Marie Fernan | Philippines |
| Sherine Isaac | Grenada |
| Sina Dione | USA |
| Sofia Taras | |
| Suzanne Markland | USA |
| Tanja Farr | USA |
| Tavelle Cox | USA |
| Theresa Joseph | Grenada |
| Timothy Yan | USA |
| Tyler Campbell | USA |
| Valerie Kham | Canada |
| Veronica Sala | Italy |
| William Youngblood | USA |
| Yameli Carrillo | Peru |
| Yashica Singh | India |
| Yen Chi Le | Vietnam |
| Zachary Nichol | Canada |
| Zargham Muhammad | USA |
| Zipporah Ndung’U | Kenya |
| Faella, Alessia |
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| Kimberly Nesper | USA |
| Jazmin Campos | USA |
| Henrik Mertens | Germany |
| Yevheniy Frankiv | Ukraine |
| Blerta Berisha | Italy |
| Maddalena Dulio | Italy |
| Simone Del’Oca | Italy |
| Alex Mbaka | Kenya |
| Angelica Saliv | Italy |
| Chiara Maria | Italy |
| Gianluca Sampaolo | Italy |
| Lorenzo Strolla | Italy |
| Tubinisso Iakubaeva | Italy |
| HALINA MAKOUSKAYA | Bielorussia |
| Loula Boye | Ghana |
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TENTATIVE PROGRAM
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The Selection Phase
Friday, March 2, 2018
- Initial invitation: Invitations sent to the best X-Culture graduates (students whose performance in X-Culture was rated in to 10% will received the initial invitations; about 45,000 students have participated in X-Culture over the years, so approximately 4,500 will be invited to apply to attend the Symposium.
Saturday, April 14, 2018
- Application: The invited students have until 11:59 pm (EST), Saturday, April 14, 2018 to apply.
Monday, April 9, 2018
- Selection: Not everyone from the Top 10% group will apply. We expect approximately 500 applications from the initial pool. The applications will be reviewed and 150 students will receive the formal invitation to the Symposium. The preference will be given to the students with the best performance records (highest peer evaluations, best reports, most insightful comments, best results on the tests) and students with the strongest applications (best recommendations, intent statement, etc.). We will also try to maximize the group diversity, so students from under-represented countries may be given a little preference. Members of winning teams and students who went through the Coaching Program will be given top priority and will be automatically included in the final group of 150.
- Final Decisions: The final list of 150 attendees (approximately Top 0.3% of all X-Culture participants) will be finalized by April 16 and all applicants will be informed of the decision on their application. The 150 students will receive a formal invitation letters that they can use to apply for the Italian visa or to ask for a leave from work (if needed). Also, if requested, they will receive support letters that they can present to potential sponsors if they need to ask for financial support. Students not included in the final Top 150 group will be ranked and put on a waiting list.
Monday, April 30
- Registration: The 150 selected attendees will have until 11:59 pm (EST), Monday, April 30, 2018 to register for the event (pay the registration fee). If any of the students from the group of 150 fail to register by this deadline, their spot to the next person on the waiting list.
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Friday, June 1, 2018
- Teams formed
Monday, June 4, 2018
- Company Challenges released
Friday, June 15, 2018
- International teams formed and preparation for international challenge begins
- Plan on communicating with your international team regularly during this month before the meeting in Macerata
- Your team should be arriving in Macerata with a preliminary solution which will likely require 2-5 hours of work per week during this month
Sunday, July 29, 2018
- 12:00 – 17:00 Arrive, check in at the University of Macerata on-campus housing
- 19:00 – 21:00 Welcome Reception
- 21:30 Opera Viewing – “The Magic Flute” by Mozart
Monday, July 30, 2018
- 09:00 – 10:00 Tour of the University of Macerata campus
- 10:00 – 12:00 Tour of the City
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00 Introduction to Faculty & meet your Challenge Company
- Dinner on your own
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Field Trip to Local Company
- 12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
- 14:00 – 17:00 Field Trip to Local Company
- Dinner on your own
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Conference/Lectures (2/3 Tracks)
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- Team time
- Dinner on your own
Thursday, August 2, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Conference/Lectures (2/3 Tracks)
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- Team time
- Dinner on your own
Friday, August 3, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Resume/Elevator Pitch/ Interview Competitions
- 12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
- 14:00 – 17:00 Challenge Presentations
- 19:00 – 24:00 Farewell Gala & Awards
Saturday, August 4, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Departures (No later than 12:00!)
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RESEARCH HACKATHON & X-CULTURE MASTER FACULTY CERTIFICATION TRAINING
For X-Culture Instructors only. By invitation only.
RESEARCH HACKATHON: Every day, a few hours will be devoted to the research activities. While the students are preparing their presentations, the instructors participating in the hackathon will brainstorm paper ideas and start working on developing papers.
The X-Culture data will be shared with the Research Hackathon attendees 1 month before the event so that they can start preparing and developing their paper ideas.
MASTER X-CULTURE FACULTY CERTIFICATION: Additionally, faculty will have the opportunity to be in the first cohort to earn “X-Culture Master Faculty Certification”, included in the faculty registration cost.
X-Culture Master Faculty Certification Workshop Duration: Total of four (4) hours of continuing education hours. The schedule will allow faculty to also participate in the Hackathon and other symposium activities.
Upon successful completion of this multi-day program, participants will be awarded X-Culture Faculty Certification status. This credential provides:
- X-Culture-recognized status for use in your professional endeavors
- Access to the X-Culture Certified Faculty Community
- Networking and professional development opportunities
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Friday, June 15, 2018
- Data release, start reviewing the available data and thinking about possible studies
Sunday, July 29, 2018
- 12:00 – 17:00 Arrive, check in at the University of Macerata on-campus housing
- 19:00 – 21:00 Welcome Reception
- 21:30 Opera Viewing – “The Magic Flute” by Mozart
Monday, July 30, 2018
- 09:00 – 10:00AM Tour of the University of Macerata campus
- 10:00 – 12:00 Tour of the City
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 – 14:30 Introduction to Faculty & meet your Challenge Company
- 14:30 – 15:30 Research Hackathon
- 15:30 – 16:30 X-Culture Faculty Training
- Dinner on your own
Tuesday, July 31, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Field Trip to Local Company
- 12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
- 14:00 – 17:00 Field Trip to Local Company
- Dinner on your own
Wednesday, August 1, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Conference/Lectures (2/3 Tracks)
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00 X-Culture Faculty Training
- 15:15 – 16:45 Research Hackathon
- Dinner on your own
Thursday, August 2, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Conference/Lectures (2/3 Tracks)
- 12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
- 13:30 – 15:00 X-Culture Faculty Training
- 15:15 – 16:45 Research Hackathon
- Dinner on your own
Friday, August 3, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Resume/Elevator Pitch/ Interview Competitions
- 12:00 – 14:00 Lunch
- 14:00 – 17:00 Challenge Presentations
- 19:00 – 24:00 Farewell Gala & Awards
Saturday, August 4, 2018
- 09:00 – 12:00 Departures (No later than 12:00!)
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COSTS, STUDENTS
The X-Culture Symposium student participation fee is $895, which covers:
- Registration
- 6 nights lodging at the University of Macerata
- Welcome dinner
- Gala dinner at the Award Ceremony
- 5 lunches
- One full day of bus transportation to the local companies
- The conference welcome and printed materials
- X-Culture Symposium Participation Certificates and recommendation letters commenting on your completion of the career development workshops.
COSTS, FACULTY
The X-Culture Symposium participation fee is $895, which covers:
- Registration
- 6 nights lodging at the University of Macerata
- All meals, including:
- Welcome dinner
- Gala dinner at the Award Ceremony
- 5 lunches
- One full day of bus transportation to the local companies
- The conference welcome and printed materials
- X-Culture Symposium Participation Certificates and recommendation letters commenting on your completion of the continuing education workshops.
- There are a limited number of hotel rooms available as an out of pocket cost.
CORPORATE SPONSORS
$5000.00 Platinum sponsorship:
- Official sponsor of Italy 2018 Conference and Symposium
- Full page Ad in program
- Logo on bag giveaway
- Opportunity to set up a table at all event opportunities
- Logo on X-Culture website and conference and symposium info page through August 4th, 2018
- Social media recognition as applicable
- Participate in all activities during the symposium in Macerata, Italy (value of $895)
- 6 nights in one standard hotel room per sponsor (opportunity to upgrade upon request for an additional charge)
- Serve as a judge for one or more of the business competitions and participate in panel discussions.
- If available, companies can reserve additional hotel rooms at their own expense.
PERSONAL EXPENSES
The students will be paying on their own for:
- Travel to Macerata (airfare or other, could be very cheap for students in Italy and neighboring countries, up to a few hundred dollars for students in more distant countries, to over a thousand dollars for international travelers)
- Italy visa processing fee (if required, costs varies by country)
- Dinner on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday (Sunday and Friday included in the participation fee)
- Breakfast on your own, dormitories will have minimal appliances
- Other personal expenses (souvenirs, etc.)
- Pre or post conference sightseeing and other activities (Italy is a world-renowned tourist destination that offers a huge variety of sightseeing options, the only limit being your budget and time)
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
The closes airport to the University of Macerata is Ancona.
However, it may be cheaper to fly to Rome, San Marino, Naples, Bologna, or Naples. These are bigger airports that are not too far. Flying to these bigger airports and then buying a bus/train ticket to Macerata may be cheaper than flying to Ancona.
If you are flying to Ancona,
1) aero-bus http://aeroportomarche.regione.marche.it/Viaggiatori/Come-raggiungerci/Aerobus-Raffaello
that goes straight to Ancona main railway station (26 minutes) and from there take a train to Macerata (60 minutes).
The timing of trains and tickets can be found on the official website: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
If you are landing in Rome, you have two options:
1) a train from Fiumicino airport to Macerata; it takes around 6 hours and a half: http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
2) a bus at the airport: the timing of buses and tickets can be found https://www.romamarchelinee.it/orari/ It takes 5 hours and a half.
Special thanks to the following organizations for their assistance in finding corporate partners.
