Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

ENNIO DORIS FOUNDATION LAUNCHES FIRST LOCAL EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP PROJECT WITH THE SUPPORT OF ITALCER GROUP AND UNIMORE

The Ennio Doris Foundation is launching a new local scholarship and mentorship scheme, supported by the Italcer Group and in collaboration with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMORE). The initiative stems from the "Community & Mentorship" programme promoted by the Ennio Doris Foundation—a non-profit organisation established in 2022 to nurture talent and foster social mobility. It aims to develop and roll out an integrated educational model combining scholarships, training, and career guidance for deserving students.

The partnership was conceived to make this model sustainable and scalable over time, whilst maintaining a strong community-focused, hands-on approach to supporting students. This is made possible through the direct involvement of universities, businesses, and local stakeholders—an approach that celebrates local strengths while progressively expanding both the number of young people involved and the overall impact achieved.

The model fosters collaboration between the non-profit sector, business, and academia: the Ennio Doris Foundation acts as the creator, promoter, and guarantor of the educational pathway; Italcer Group serves as the supporting partner, driving the initiative's growth and enhancing skills aligned with modern workplace demands; UniMORE joins as the academic partner, overseeing student selection and enhancing their academic journey.

The project will award scholarships to students at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMORE), selected based on merit and financial need. Recipients will join a three-year mentorship programme, delivered and managed locally with the support of the Italcer Group.

Financial aid will be coupled with a structured development programme focusing on soft skills, delivered through workshops, networking opportunities with professionals, and career guidance experiences. The ultimate goal is to guide students through their personal and professional growth, providing practical tools to confidently and robustly navigate the challenges of the professional world.

Sara Doris, Chair of the Ennio Doris Foundation

"We believe in an educational model that goes beyond merely rewarding merit; it must accompany young people on a journey of personal and professional growth. The Foundation was established in memory of my father, Ennio Doris, and stems from the awareness that his own human and entrepreneurial journey was made possible also thanks to the support he received during his studies. Today, we want to translate that experience into tangible opportunities for the next generation. For us, this partnership represents a strategic step towards building a replicable model that can be adopted across various Italian regions. By engaging a potentially vast and highly qualified network of stakeholders—universities, businesses, non-profit organisations, and entrepreneurial families—we can generate a concrete and lasting impact.

At the core of this collaboration is a deeply shared set of values: a focus on individuals, the centrality of education, and a commitment to investing in young people as a catalyst for the country's development."

Graziano Verdi, CEO of Italcer Group

"We are proud to stand alongside the Ennio Doris Foundation and UniMORE in a project that tangibly drives growth and opportunities for the next generation. For Italcer, supporting this initiative means investing in the future of our youth and our local communities. We believe that every ability should be nurtured and supported, regardless of social background, and that collaboration between business, academia, and the non-profit sector is vital to creating robust, inclusive pathways for growth. Through this project, we aim to contribute to the development of key skills for the workplace, guiding deserving young people through a journey that blends education, career guidance, and practical experience. This is how we build value, both for individuals and for the community."

Monia Montorsi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Community, Career Guidance and Student Welfare at UniMORE

"Joining this project reflects our University's core mission: to be an engine for social mobility and community growth," stated Professor Monia Montorsi, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Student Community, Student Welfare and Career Guidance.

"It is a strategic priority of our governance to place students at the centre, ensuring practical support throughout their educational journey. Thanks to our synergy with the Ennio Doris Foundation and the Italcer Group, we are offering our young people a mentorship model that integrates academic excellence with training support and soft skills development. In a competitive market, this partnership transforms merit into high-impact talent, equipping future professionals with the tools to become the added value for tomorrow's businesses and society."

Ennio Doris Foundation

The Ennio Doris Foundation was established in 2022 to continue and develop the values and legacy of Ennio Doris, promoting initiatives capable of generating a lasting social impact. The Foundation's work focuses particularly on education as a lever for social mobility, delivered through structured scholarship, mentorship, and skills development programmes aimed at deserving students.

ITALCER GROUP

The Italcer Group, a leading benchmark hub in high-end ceramics, led by Graziano Verdi and controlled since 30 April 2026 by Wienerberger AG, boasted a turnover of over €350 million in 2025, with hundreds of completed projects, 15,000 clients worldwide, and more than 1,200 employees. Today, it operates through premium brands and historic ceramic enterprises that manufacture excellent products for interiors and exteriors. The group includes: Fondovalle, La Fabbrica-AVA, Elios Ceramica, Devon&Devon, Ceramica Rondine, Bottega, Equipe Cerámicas, Opificio Ceramico, and Terratinta.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng