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.
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From the same author
Read the articleSource:
- Times of Malta, published on September 18th, 2025
4 min read
The gathering brought together academics and technology leaders from prominent European Institutions, such as Instituto de Empresa (IE University), OPIT itself and the Royal College of Arts, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the university experience.
The OPIT AI Copilot has been trained on the institute’s complete academic archive, a collection created over the past three years that includes 131 courses, more than 3,500 hours of recorded lectures, 7,500 study resources, 320 certified assessments, and thousands of exercises and original learning documents.
Unlike generic AI tools, the Copilot is deeply integrated with OPIT’s learning management system, allowing it to track each student’s progress and provide tailored support.
This integration means the assistant can reference relevant sources within the learning environment, adapt to the student’s stage of study, and ensure that unreleased course content remains inaccessible.
A mobile app is also scheduled for release this autumn, that will allow students to download exercise and access other tools.
During examinations, the Copilot automatically switches to what the institute calls an “anti-cheating mode”, restricting itself to general research support rather than providing direct answers.
For OPIT’s international community of 500 students from nearly 100 countries, many of whom balance studies with full-time work, the ability to access personalised assistance at any time of day is a key advantage.
“Eighty-five per cent of students are already using large language models in some way to study,” said OPIT founder and director Riccardo Ocleppo. “We wanted to go further by creating a solution tailored to our own community, reflecting the real experiences of remote learners and working professionals.”
Tool aims to cut correction time by 30%
The Copilot will also reduce administrative burdens for faculty. It can help grade assignments, generate new educational materials, and create rubrics that allow teachers to cut correction time by as much as 30 per cent.
According to OPIT, this will free up staff to dedicate more time to teaching and direct student engagement.
At the Milan event, Rector Francesco Profumo underlined the broader implications of AI in higher education. “We are in the midst of a deep transformation, where AI is no longer just a tool: it is an environment that radically changes how we learn, teach, and create,” he said.
“But it is not a shortcut. It is a cultural, ethical, and pedagogical challenge, and to meet it we must have the courage to rethink traditional models and build bridges between human and artificial intelligence.”
OPIT was joined on stage by representatives from other leading institutions, including Danielle Barrios O’Neill of the Royal College of Art, who spoke about the role of AI in art and creativity, and Francisco Machin of IE University, who discussed applications in business and management education.
OPIT student Asya Mantovani, also employed at a leading technology and consulting firm in Italy, gave a first-hand account of balancing professional life with online study.
The assistant has been in development for the past eight months, involving a team of OPIT professors, researchers, and engineers.
Ocleppo stressed that OPIT intends to make its AI innovations available beyond its own institution. “We want to put technology at the service of higher education,” he said.
“Our goal is to develop solutions not only for our own students, but also to share with global institutions eager to innovate the learning experience in a future that is approaching very quickly.”
Read the articleFrom personalization to productivity: AI at the heart of the educational experience.
Click this link to read and download the e-book.
At its core, teaching is a simple endeavour. The experienced and learned pass on their knowledge and wisdom to new generations. Nothing has changed in that regard. What has changed is how new technologies emerge to facilitate that passing on of knowledge. The printing press, computers, the internet – all have transformed how educators teach and how students learn.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next game-changer in the educational space.
Specifically, AI agents have emerged as tools that utilize all of AI’s core strengths, such as data gathering and analysis, pattern identification, and information condensing. Those strengths have been refined, first into simple chatbots capable of providing answers, and now into agents capable of adapting how they learn and adjusting to the environment in which they’re placed. This adaptability, in particular, makes AI agents vital in the educational realm.
The reasons why are simple. AI agents can collect, analyse, and condense massive amounts of educational material across multiple subject areas. More importantly, they can deliver that information to students while observing how the students engage with the material presented. Those observations open the door for tweaks. An AI agent learns alongside their student. Only, the agent’s learning focuses on how it can adapt its delivery to account for a student’s strengths, weaknesses, interests, and existing knowledge.
Think of an AI agent like having a tutor – one who eschews set lesson plans in favour of an adaptive approach designed and tweaked constantly for each specific student.
In this eBook, the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) will take you on a journey through the world of AI agents as they pertain to education. You will learn what these agents are, how they work, and what they’re capable of achieving in the educational sector. We also explore best practices and key approaches, focusing on how educators can use AI agents to the benefit of their students. Finally, we will discuss other AI tools that both complement and enhance an AI agent’s capabilities, ensuring you deliver the best possible educational experience to your students.
-
Go to all authors
Related posts
Source:
- Times of Malta, published on September 18th, 2025
4 min read
The gathering brought together academics and technology leaders from prominent European Institutions, such as Instituto de Empresa (IE University), OPIT itself and the Royal College of Arts, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping the university experience.
The OPIT AI Copilot has been trained on the institute’s complete academic archive, a collection created over the past three years that includes 131 courses, more than 3,500 hours of recorded lectures, 7,500 study resources, 320 certified assessments, and thousands of exercises and original learning documents.
Unlike generic AI tools, the Copilot is deeply integrated with OPIT’s learning management system, allowing it to track each student’s progress and provide tailored support.
This integration means the assistant can reference relevant sources within the learning environment, adapt to the student’s stage of study, and ensure that unreleased course content remains inaccessible.
A mobile app is also scheduled for release this autumn, that will allow students to download exercise and access other tools.
During examinations, the Copilot automatically switches to what the institute calls an “anti-cheating mode”, restricting itself to general research support rather than providing direct answers.
For OPIT’s international community of 500 students from nearly 100 countries, many of whom balance studies with full-time work, the ability to access personalised assistance at any time of day is a key advantage.
“Eighty-five per cent of students are already using large language models in some way to study,” said OPIT founder and director Riccardo Ocleppo. “We wanted to go further by creating a solution tailored to our own community, reflecting the real experiences of remote learners and working professionals.”
Tool aims to cut correction time by 30%
The Copilot will also reduce administrative burdens for faculty. It can help grade assignments, generate new educational materials, and create rubrics that allow teachers to cut correction time by as much as 30 per cent.
According to OPIT, this will free up staff to dedicate more time to teaching and direct student engagement.
At the Milan event, Rector Francesco Profumo underlined the broader implications of AI in higher education. “We are in the midst of a deep transformation, where AI is no longer just a tool: it is an environment that radically changes how we learn, teach, and create,” he said.
“But it is not a shortcut. It is a cultural, ethical, and pedagogical challenge, and to meet it we must have the courage to rethink traditional models and build bridges between human and artificial intelligence.”
OPIT was joined on stage by representatives from other leading institutions, including Danielle Barrios O’Neill of the Royal College of Art, who spoke about the role of AI in art and creativity, and Francisco Machin of IE University, who discussed applications in business and management education.
OPIT student Asya Mantovani, also employed at a leading technology and consulting firm in Italy, gave a first-hand account of balancing professional life with online study.
The assistant has been in development for the past eight months, involving a team of OPIT professors, researchers, and engineers.
Ocleppo stressed that OPIT intends to make its AI innovations available beyond its own institution. “We want to put technology at the service of higher education,” he said.
“Our goal is to develop solutions not only for our own students, but also to share with global institutions eager to innovate the learning experience in a future that is approaching very quickly.”
From personalization to productivity: AI at the heart of the educational experience.
Click this link to read and download the e-book.
At its core, teaching is a simple endeavour. The experienced and learned pass on their knowledge and wisdom to new generations. Nothing has changed in that regard. What has changed is how new technologies emerge to facilitate that passing on of knowledge. The printing press, computers, the internet – all have transformed how educators teach and how students learn.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is the next game-changer in the educational space.
Specifically, AI agents have emerged as tools that utilize all of AI’s core strengths, such as data gathering and analysis, pattern identification, and information condensing. Those strengths have been refined, first into simple chatbots capable of providing answers, and now into agents capable of adapting how they learn and adjusting to the environment in which they’re placed. This adaptability, in particular, makes AI agents vital in the educational realm.
The reasons why are simple. AI agents can collect, analyse, and condense massive amounts of educational material across multiple subject areas. More importantly, they can deliver that information to students while observing how the students engage with the material presented. Those observations open the door for tweaks. An AI agent learns alongside their student. Only, the agent’s learning focuses on how it can adapt its delivery to account for a student’s strengths, weaknesses, interests, and existing knowledge.
Think of an AI agent like having a tutor – one who eschews set lesson plans in favour of an adaptive approach designed and tweaked constantly for each specific student.
In this eBook, the Open Institute of Technology (OPIT) will take you on a journey through the world of AI agents as they pertain to education. You will learn what these agents are, how they work, and what they’re capable of achieving in the educational sector. We also explore best practices and key approaches, focusing on how educators can use AI agents to the benefit of their students. Finally, we will discuss other AI tools that both complement and enhance an AI agent’s capabilities, ensuring you deliver the best possible educational experience to your students.
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