Value of the Capstone Project: OPIT Student Interview With Irene

The Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) was developed not only to create dynamic technology-focused courses that evolve with real-world tech development, offering flexible degrees that allow professionals to expand their horizons without interrupting their careers. But what does that look like in practice?

Rinaldo Festa recently shared his experience completing OPIT’s BSc in Modern Computer Science while working as the Chief Technology Officer at Cosmico. He explained why he chose to further his studies, his experience at OPIT, and how it has affected his career.

Meet Rinaldo Festa

Rinaldo describes himself as a results-oriented engineering leader with a journey from military services to a successful startup exit. His experience bridges the gap between product and engineering by driving technical strategy and mentoring high-performing teams.

He is now the CTO at Cosmico, an Italian firm that specializes in matching digital talent with companies. This allows businesses to access the most experienced workers for projects as needed and expanding the horizons of digital experts working remotely. They currently have a team of over 27,000 experienced professionals with expertise in areas such as design, coding, data, AI, and cybersecurity. They have worked on major projects for major organizations such as Accenture and Huawei, as well as startups such as Scalapay and Unguess.

The Challenge

While Rinaldo could certainly characterize his career as successful, he felt the need to balance innovation with practical application, ensuring he could not only lead a team but also not lose touch with the technical elements. This led Rinaldo to ask himself: “Am I truly staying ahead, or merely keeping up?”

A curious professional with a growth mindset, Rinaldo was not looking for a new job, but he did want greater clarity. He wanted to better understand the fundamentals of the technologies that are driving advancement and transformation, such as artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and cybersecurity. He also wanted to deepen his understanding of the strategic application of these technologies and also dive deeper into essential questions such as the ethics of AI.

This led Rinaldo to search for a path forward that wouldn’t interrupt his career but would rather expand his horizons. Enter OPIT, offering flexible courses that you can complete remotely on your own schedule. These courses maintain a dynamic structure and actively keep pace with the latest technological developments, rather than following a limited approved curriculum. Another factor that attracted Rinaldo to OPIT was the faculty, working professionals who lead in their industries and actively teach and share their experience of current, real-world challenges and applications.

Studying at OPIT

Once he started his course, Rinaldo quickly realized that he had made the right decision. While embracing the opportunity to be a student again and acknowledging that he had much to learn, he also appreciated how OPIT respected and valued his experience, while also challenging his assumptions and helping him to grow. He quickly realized that OPIT’s courses are “designed for people like me.”

Rinaldo also shared that he was pleasantly surprised by how fast the theories he learnt became practical knowledge and then actionable insight that he could apply in his professional life. New methods, tools, and mental models were immediately useful in team reviews, architecture choices, and product strategies.

Professional Transformation

While Rinaldo is still enrolled, his studies at OPIT have already had a transformative impact on his professional life. Continuing his role as Chief Technology Officer at Cosmico, he has a new vision, enabling him to work on new transformational projects.

Rinaldo now focuses on developing AI-driven solutions for the future of talent management. For example, while many already use AI to read CVs and resumes to identify qualified potential candidates, Rinaldo leverages AI to do much more. New AI agents are capable of context-aware skill extraction, not only identify keywords linked with certain skills but also understanding the context behind each skill listed in a CV.

The team at Cosmico also now committed to creating responsible AI tools that are fit for purpose, not just producing tools with the popular AI-powered label. A major part of this is education before implementation. According to Rinaldo:

“Let’s face it: most people who discuss AI don’t understand what they’re talking about. They confuse basic machine learning with agentic AI. They implement ‘AI solutions’ that are nothing more than glorified ‘if/then’ statements. This is only ineffective; it is dangerous.”

Cosmico is building programs to demystify AI concepts and create a common language about capabilities and limitations.

This is how Rinaldo is leading from the front, made possible by his time studying at OPIT. Rather than a career shift, he achieved a mindset shift that is helping him to be more strategic, aligned, and aware.

OPIT Programs

OPIT is now offering a range of programs that can help professionals upskill, develop a better understanding of the technologies that are transforming the way we live and work, and take a more strategic approach to their application and implementation.

While Rinaldo chose OPIT’s BSc, there are also many other MSc programs open to people with a bachelor’s in any subject; it does not need to be technical.

The MSc in Digital Business and Innovation empowers professionals to drive innovation in both established companies and digital-native contexts by leveraging the power of digital technologies and AI.

With strong emphasis on real-world applications in areas such as natural language processing, computer vision, business, sensor systems, and industry automation, the MSc in Responsible Artificial Intelligence combines technical expertise with a focus on the ethical implications of modern AI.

The MSc in Enterprise Cybersecurity integrates technical and managerial expertise, equipping students with the skills to fulfill the market’s need for versatile professionals capable of implementing security solutions and leading cybersecurity initiatives.

Meanwhile, the MSc in Applied Data Science and AI equips students to work at the intersection of management and tech and solve real-life business problems using data science and AI.

Not sure which course is right for you? Chat to OPIT’s Career Services team for advice.

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.