Created to share university notes, it has grown over the years and today, with the health emergency forcing the world of education to operate remotely, it is one of the platforms of the moment. Let's talk about docsity, the former startup founded in 2011 by the young Turinese Riccardo Ocleppo, which today it has over 14 million registered users, with an international community growing at a rate of over 500 new users a month, from all over the world. It is a matter not only, as was originally conceived by the student Ocleppo, enrolled at the Polytechnic of Turin, of exchanging notes and advice on courses and for exams, but of a real reference portal not only for students but also for schools and universities wishing to promote their training offer, in Italy and abroad, through the creation of content and the virtualization of ad hoc events.
The latest important agreement is the one reached with the Statale di Milano, in view of the hot months for university orientation: in addition to having forced millions of young people home, the global health emergency has in fact prevented schools and universities from being able to meet prospective students. This is why the Milanese university turned to Docsity, to which it completely entrusted the planning and organization of its first Virtual Open Week. Starting from Monday 22 June, teachers will be able to interact online for an entire week and introduce Italian and international parents and students to the degree courses and services offered. In particular, Docsity takes care of creating virtual environments, capable of accommodating up to 5.000 people simultaneously (more than it would have been possible to physically accommodate at the same time), and to promote and manage the busy agenda of over 50 live events: Live presentations, moments of discussion, questions and answers and interactive orientation desks.
Could this new operational paradigm also be useful for schools, given that it is still not clear how the school year will restart in September? Yes of course. FIRSTonline asked this and other questions directly to Riccardo Ocleppo, founder and CEO of Docsity. Here's how he answered us.
Did it really all come from the need to exchange notes for exams?
"Yes. After completing a master's degree at the Polytechnic of Turin and a Masters in Management at the London Business School, the idea of Docsity was born, starting from the need to solve a concrete problem. During their studies, many felt the real need for a point of reference for sharing material and notes to prepare for exams. Thus I had the idea of creating a site designed and developed around the needs of those who study, an ecosystem for students of any faculty and course of study, designed to support them in the various stages of preparation and orientation".
But now Docsity has an international dimension. How did this expansion happen?
“The need felt by Italian students I have discovered is very similar to that of students in many other parts of the world. So we developed a strategy that would allow us to export our model all over the world. To date, Docsity is present in more than 80 countries around the world and can be consulted in 9 different languages”.
Is the agreement with the Statale di Milano valid only for the open week or is it broader?
"Although at the moment everyone's maximum attention and concentration is focused on the success of the Open Week of 22-27 June, we are already laying the foundations with the university managers to continue our collaboration on other equally innovative projects".
What are some of the most important universities abroad you collaborate with?
“I mention these: in France ESCP Paris, Skema Business School, EDHEC Business School; in UK Alliance Manchester and SOAS University of London; University College Dublin and Michael Smurfith Business School in Ireland, Franklin University in Switzerland and the USA; then in Europe we also have the Spanish Instituto de Impresa, the BI Norwegian Business School, ESMT Berlin in Germany and the Catolica University Lisbon, in Portugal. In the world we also have DUKE University – Fuqua School of Business, Canberra University, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (Saudi Arabia) and Skolkovo Institute of Science & Technology, in Russia”.
Can Docsity's business model and its services be applied to schools as well as universities?
“Absolutely, the Docsity model on preparation is already active for high school students in Italy and Spain. As for the high school guidance model, it could undoubtedly be applied locally with a similar methodology. In our opinion, the future of university education will be increasingly digital and international, and after the current situation of COVID-19 will offer many more proposals aimed at online or blended education, paving the way for a new way of learning and interacting".
Could yours be a business model that can also be applied to open days, training and the search for personnel for companies?
“There are several points of contact, even if it is not possible to generalize. We collaborate with various companies in the recruiting and employer branding fields. At least for now, however, we prefer to stay focused on the world of education, which offers countless opportunities for innovation and in which we can play a leading role".
