Are you considering broadening your field of expertise in key areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), data analytics, and cybersecurity in an effort to be more prepared for the current and future workplace?

The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) offers both BSc and MSc degrees in areas such as Modern Computer Science, Digital Innovation, Applied AI, and Data Science that are designed to be dynamic and practical, constantly responding to advances in the field. And all OPIT courses are fully remote, attracting students from around the globe and providing asynchronous learning opportunities. This creates a flexibility that allows you to coordinate your studies around your other commitments, whether that be a challenging job or a busy family. So you can study when it’s convenient for you.

But what is it truly like to study online? Lucas Tecchio, head of Digital Content Creation at OPIT, recently took us on a deep dive into how OPIT’s courses are designed and delivered to help you understand what to expect from earning an OPIT degree.

Synchronous vs. Asynchronous Learning

Tecchio explained that OPIT’s courses combine synchronous and asynchronous content elements to create a dynamic learning environment that is both flexible and keeps students on track.

There are live sessions with professors, as well as content that is released in weekly modules to maintain the pace of the course. This is paired with videos, readings, practice tasks, and discussion forums that can be accessed at any time based on module release. Recordings of live sessions are also made available, so you don’t miss anything.

You can also choose to study at your own pace, through either the regular track – usually three years – or the fast track, in which you complete the course in two years. You receive the same quality education if you select the fast track, which is merely more intensive and requires additional time. But you get to select which track of study works best for you.

PERES Methodology

All OPIT course content is designed according to the PERES Methodology to optimize quality and engagement. Tecchio explained that the PERES Methodology means:

• Practicality – All theoretical concepts are reinforced with practical application
• Elegance – Learning material is well-presented for enhanced engagement and clarity
• Rigor – Content is academically rigorous
• Energy – Course content is delivered with an energy that keeps students engaged
• Simplicity – Materials are designed to make content accessible

Online Portal

All OPIT’s courses are delivered through its online portal called Canvas, where all course material can also be accessed.

According to Tecchio, when you log in, you can access all the individual courses that make up your program. You can also receive a general overview of your current stage in the program and what you need to do for all your courses, thanks to calendar and to-do list options.

When you select individual courses, you will see live weekly modules with links to the relevant content, including live sessions, videos, reading materials, and more.

Canvas is a self-contained and highly navigable portal that helps you stay organized and on track.

Competence-Based Learning and Progressive Assessment

Tecchio explained that OPIT’s courses are designed to teach both theory and competency, ensuring you can put what you have learned into practice. In the case of MSc courses, this culminates with the Capstone Project, which lets you apply everything you have learned to real business challenges.

In fact, every stage of the course follows the same philosophy – you will find yourself conducting practice tasks, performing live coding, and analyzing real study cases.

This philosophy carries through to assessment, which is progressive, rather than based on final exams and projects. This ensures that you are on track throughout the course, rather than left struggling at the end of the course.

For example, if you take the web development course, your main task will be to develop a website or app, and there are three stages to the project. By week four, you’ll be required to produce a prototype for your project. By week eight, you will produce a working version, and by the end of the course, you will have a fully tested and optimized version. These types of assessments can be done individually or as a group project, reflecting real workplace dynamics.

Professional Certifications

Many courses prepare you for professional certifications that are desired by many workplaces. Tecchio explained that while you still need to be tested and apply for the official certification, OPIT will fully prepare you to pass the testing without additional study.

You can receive professional certification in:

• Computer networks: CompTIA Network+
• Project management and quality assurance: Prince2Foundation, CAPM
• Cloud computing infrastructure: AWS Cloud Practitioner Essentials
• Network security and intrusion detection: CISSP
• AI-Driven forensic analytics in cybersecurity: GCFA

Student Support System

While studying online can sometimes feel like an isolated journey, Tecchio explained that OPIT does everything it can to build a dynamic community where you can receive significant student support to keep you connected and on track.

There are four main sources of student support.

The program coordinator helps with administrative issues. They handle onboarding, assist with the learning platform, organize additional events, and have virtual office hours that you can take advantage of whenever you need support.

Our team of 50+ academic and professional tutors not only delivers live lectures but is also an accessible source of knowledge and guidance. The faculty is a mix of experienced professors and active professionals who are leaders in their field and possess active real-world experience they can share with students. The faculty includes leaders like Zorina Alliata, Principal AI and Generative AI Strategist at Amazon, and Sylvester Kaczmarek, a former AI expert at NASA and WeSpace.

The Career Services team can assist with the transition from study to the workplace. The team delivers career coaching, organizes masterclasses with industry experts, and facilitates internship opportunities.

OPIT AI Copilot

This support team is now joined by OPIT AI Copilot, an AI agent that is specifically designed to be a personal learning companion. Unlike most generative AI agents, OPIT AI Copilot is trained on OPIT’s extensive range of learning materials, so it is highly fit for purpose. It also knows where students currently are in their course and can focus on the competencies that they are on track to master.

You can use OPIT AI Copilot to get immediate answers to questions based on OPIT’s course materials. It can also help students locate relevant resources, summarize the key takeaways from lectures to facilitate revision. Additionally, it can create practice tests based on the course materials, and prepare students for assessments through simulations.

OPIT Degrees

Online learning is often perceived as a lesser substitute for live learning experiences. But OPIT has superseded this by designing a dynamic online, asynchronous learning environment that promotes personalized education that works for individual students based on their lifestyle, time commitments, and learning style. It is not a substitute, but a new way of learning that represents the future of education.

Learn more about OPIT’s programs and courses and whether OPIT might be the right learning option for you.

The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) is a dynamic new university that provides practical learning opportunities for people looking to thrive in a dynamic, tech-driven workplace. It offers bachelor’s courses for those at the start of their journey and master’s courses for professionals hoping to expand their horizons. This includes students like Silvia Garavaglia.

We recently spoke to Silvia about her experience studying with OPIT. She shared how her professional interests led her to OPIT and how her studies have led her to a new and unanticipated career path in artificial intelligence (AI).

Understanding the Data

Until recently, Silvia Garavaglia worked as a project manager, leading complex assignments across a variety of European firms. Silvia shared that she was increasingly working on data-driven initiatives and learned the value that big data, combined with AI, could deliver in business. However, she felt that she was just scratching the surface of what AI-enhanced data analysis could do and that her lack of experience on the technical side was holding her back from doing more with it.

In short, Silvia found herself wanting to move from just managing and leveraging data to truly understanding how the technology works under the hood. She knew that she would have to find educational resources to support this journey.

Finding a Learning Partner

Silvia’s professional goals motivated her to start looking for a learning partner. But this was a challenge for a number of reasons. First, she needed a flexible program compatible with her busy work life. Many of the courses she found weren’t flexible enough in their availability to fit into her schedule. Second, many relevant programs demand a strong technical background for master-level courses.

From her on-the-job experience, Silvia knew that she wanted a course that combined technical skills development with teaching strategic approaches that focus on application. She knew that the things she wanted to achieve would require a combination of the two.

OPIT’s MSc in Applied Data Science & AI

After much research, Silvia chose OPIT’s MSc in Applied Data Science & AI, which is designed to prepare students to occupy the intersection between management and tech. A master’s course designed for professionals with varied backgrounds, the program combines technical courses on data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence with courses on business management and problem-solving.

What students learn in their dynamic online classroom is then applied to real-life business challenges that can be addressed using data science and AI. These solutions are taught by a faculty who are not just teachers, but active professionals working at the cutting edge of their fields.

The course also includes an internship or a capstone project that sees students apply their learning to new challenges, turning theory into experience.

Silvia said that she chose OPIT due to its practical content and human-centered approach. This set it apart from other academic programs because it was a course “built by people who build.”

She knew she had made the right decision when she started the onboarding process, which she described as responsive, transparent, and unexpectedly personal.

Learning That Changed Everything

While Silvia has always considered herself an eternal student, interested in always learning and growing, she said that the course changed her perspective. While she may have started out simply looking for knowledge to help her do her job better, what she learned made her completely rethink her role. She began to see new possibilities for her career, creating opportunities rather than fitting into cookie-cutter roles.

Silvia explained that she went from seeing herself as someone who supports tech teams to someone who creates technological solutions that solve real-world problems. She was no longer playing catch-up with her tech team; she was ready to create while following her own path forward.

A New Path

Silvia is currently interning at Midnight Ventures, an engineering company that develops cutting-edge AI agents that solve real business problems with intelligent automation and multi-agent systems.

She is working on a medical AI diagnostics platform for aesthetic medicine that analyzes ultrasounds in real time, identifying dermal fillers and skin conditions with medical precision, enhancing diagnostic capabilities. Silvia said this project appealed because of its focus on leveraging technology to solve human problems, supporting doctors to better serve their patients.

Among other things, Midnight Ventures is also working on a platform to democratize access to algorithmic trading by converting natural language trading strategies into executable code.

All of OPIT’s master’s courses include a final capstone project that lets students apply their learning to real-world challenges that inspire them. For her Capstone project, Silvia is working with HYPE, a financial services firm in Milan, on an AI-powered onboarding agent that combines technology with crafting the best possible human experience.

An Exciting Future

Overall, Silvia says that she is excited for the future. She is on the path to becoming an AI developer, learning to code step by step, while leading real projects that leverage AI to solve human challenges.

Others looking to do the same might also consider OPIT as a gateway to a new path forward. OPIT’s MSc in Applied Data Science and AI is a great place to start.

OPIT Master’s Courses

OPIT also offers an MSc in Digital Business and Innovation for professionals who want to drive innovation and lead digital entrepreneurship with a focus on growth hacking, digital transformation, and leveraging AI to drive innovation.

The MSc in Responsible AI also combines technical expertise with real-world applications, with a focus on the ethical implications of modern AI and the architecture of sustainable AI systems.

OPIT’s MSc in Enterprise Cybersecurity is focused on digital security solutions, but also focuses on combining the technical and managerial sides to bridge the gap between coding and application.

Contact Career Services to see how OPIT can support you on your journey toward your professional goals.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is having a profound impact on every aspect of our lives, and education is no exception. But leveraging AI to produce better learning outcomes requires intelligent strategies directed by experienced educational professionals. This is what the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) is working to achieve with its new OPIT AI Copilot.

OPIT is a pioneering global online university that delivers accessible and flexible courses designed to prepare people for future careers in which technology is constantly improving and evolving. And OPIT AI Copilot is now part of this, helping students manage their course load and personalize their learning, while teaching AI applications in practice.

OPIT’s Vision

OPIT was founded to fill a gap in the education market, as traditional university courses struggle to keep pace with fast-changing technology. It builds its curriculum around current cutting-edge technology and staffs its faculty with experts who are not just teachers but also active, leading professionals in the field of artificial intelligence. This is in addition to courses that combine theory with practical application.

OPIT also believes that education should be accessible for all. Their flexible online approach means that busy professionals can study while continuing their careers, and everyone can access quality education no matter where they are in the world. OPIT serves more than 350 students from 80 countries, including emerging nations like Nigeria, Ghana, and Kenya.

OPIT AI Copilot is part of this vision. The groundbreaking AI agent acts as a personal tutor, available 24/7, bridging time zones and providing real-time support. The agent also can personalize how it delivers content, adapting it based on the needs of the student, including their preferred learning style, pre-existing knowledge, learning pace, preferred language, and more. This is a major step toward overcoming the issue of the prevalent “one-size-fits-all” approach to education, which may be practical for teaching large groups but is an ineffective approach to learning.

Training and Development

The effectiveness of education AI agents depends on the quality and breadth of their training material. OPIT AI Copilot stands out for being trained on OPIT’s entire education archive. This includes 3,500 hours of video content from 131 courses, plus 3,000 proprietary documents, including 320 certified assessments.

Developed by an in-house team of dedicated faculty, engineers, and researchers, the OPIT AI Copilot is one of the first deeply integrated AI systems of its kind in a European institution. In-house development ensures that the AI agent is aligned with OPIT’s educational philosophy and approaches.

Capabilities and Features

OPIT AI Copilot is designed to be a dynamic and multi-faceted assistant with a wide range of functionality. Principal among them are:

• Personalized Learning Support: OPIT AI Copilot provides real-time, personalized guidance that adapts to a student’s progress. It can link directly to relevant sources within the virtual learning environment and adjust its support based on where the student is in their course modules. It avoids revealing information from unreleased modules, ensuring a structured and integrated learning experience.
• Contextual Assistance: As well as drawing from existing material, OPIT AI Copilot can generate content to deepen the learning experience, such as code samples and practice exams. It can also answer questions posed by the student, with responses grounded in the official course materials.
• Academic Integrity during Exams: During examinations, OPIT AI Copilot automatically shifts into “anti-cheating mode,” during which it restricts direct answers on exam topics and functions solely as a basic research tool, promoting self-driven learning and ensuring academic integrity.
• 24/7 Availability: The AI assistant operates and interacts continuously, providing round-the-clock support, which is invaluable for students across different time zones.

Benefits for Students: Enhanced Learning and Support

Having access to OPIT’s AI Copilot as a dedicated learning assistant has various benefits for students engaged in one of OPIT’s courses:

• Personalized Learning Journey: Students receive tailored support that adapts to their individual pace and learning style.
• Instant Access to Information: Immediate feedback promotes faster learning and boosts motivation, leading students to achieve better learning results.
• Improved Study Habits: Features like exam simulations and the ability to download summaries and concept maps empower students to study more effectively.
• Flexibility for Working Professionals: 24/7 availability and adaptive learning modes are particularly beneficial for students juggling study around other commitments such as work and family.

Benefits for Teachers and Faculty

While we often focus on the benefit for students, OPIT AI Copilot also benefits teachers and faculty to do their jobs better.

• Automated Grading: Automated grading of multiple-choice and single-answer exams lets students get their results immediately. The agent can also provide preliminary grades on longer written exams, assessing structure and grammar, and checking for the inclusion of key concepts. This again gives students immediate feedback while waiting for final marks and gives teachers an unbiased guide to help them verify that they are grading fairly.
• Generation of Learning Materials: Teachers can leverage OPIT AI Copilot to generate new learning materials, quizzes, and feedback rubrics, based on the core materials that they have prepared and gathered. They can also use the tool to find related new publications and materials for review and possible inclusion in the course. This saves teachers time as they expand and refine their curriculum materials.
• Scalability: The AI system allows OPIT to scale its educational offerings and support services more effectively, accommodating a growing international student body without a proportional increase in human resources.
• Pioneering Educational Technology: By integrating such an advanced AI system, OPIT positions itself as a leader in educational technology, attracting students and faculty who are keen on innovation and future-proof learning models.

OPIT AI Copilot currently saves teachers up to 30% of their time, allowing them and other faculty to focus on activities such as personalized instruction, one-on-one mentorship, refining teaching methodologies, fostering deeper student engagement, and exploring innovative pedagogical approaches.

The Future of Education With OPIT AI Copilot

The launch of OPIT AI Copilot, unveiled at Microsoft’s “AI Agents and the Future of Higher Education” event in Milan, marked a significant milestone in online education. As Professor Francesco Profumo, Rector of OPIT and former Italian Minister of Education, aptly put it, “AI is no longer just a tool: it’s an environment, a context that radically changes how we learn, teach, and create.” He emphasized that while AI offers immense potential, it also presents a cultural, ethical, and pedagogical challenge that requires courage to rethink traditional models and build solid bridges between human and artificial intelligence.

Riccardo Ocleppo, founder and director of OPIT, reinforced this vision: “We want to put technology at the service of higher education. We’re ready to develop solutions not only for our students, but also to share with other global institutions that are eager to innovate the learning experience, to face a future in education that’s fast approaching.”

Source:

• Peace FM Online, published on June 27th, 2025

• Peace FM Online

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• Business & Financial Times, published on June 30th, 2025

• Business & Financial Times

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• The Educator, published on June 19th, 2025

• The Educator

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• Il Sole 24 Ore, published on June 23rd, 2025

At its core is a teaching heritage made up of 131 courses, 3,500 hours of video, 1,800 live sessions

• Il Sole 24 Ore

Source:

• Agenda Digitale, published on June 16th, 2025

By Lokesh Vij, Professor of Cloud Computing Infrastructure, Cloud Development, Cloud Computing Automation and Ops and Cloud Data Stacks at OPIT – Open Institute of Technology

NIST identifies five key characteristics of cloud computing: on-demand self-service, network access, resource pooling, elasticity, and metered service. These pillars explain the success of the global cloud market of 912 billion in 2025

• Agenda Digitale