The experiment was the choice of a mountain setting for the inter-disciplinary and inter-cultural academic event, according to the teaching and learning methodology typical of IUS. This sparked up the idea of holding the first International Winter School of the Sophia University Institute (IUS), that ended on 15 February, organised with the patronage of the Autonomous Province of Trent and the Rural Banks and Cooperation Federation of Trent. The participants from 18 countries who were hosted at the Mariapolis Center named after Chiara Lubich, in her native land, felt really privileged to be so warmly welcomed by the city of Trent. In a situation in which change is guided by technology and political-economic challenges, the workshop focused on understanding creativity and innovation in the light of the “culture of unity” and the added value it offers. For example, making room for and recognising diversity also when this may be a potential cause of conflict. Besides the lessons in the classroom and work group sessions as planned, before and after the excursions and sports activities, the reflections on sports and bodily expressions offered an ulterior and original interpretation of the themes proposed. Particularly effective was the soiree opened to the city «Captain, my captain,» conducted by Paolo Crepaz of Sportmeet, in a dialogue with 3 captains of top professional sports teams. The dialogue also covered the queries and the resources of our time, that urge us to think big and act consequently. At the end, some participants also gave their personal impressions. F.S., Business Communications graduate, and a doctorate on Microcredit and Microfinance said: “I will not forget two things I learned: the methodology of interdisciplinarity – we cannot think of know-how as isolated fragments– and the need to build relationships based on deep knowledge of ourselves and our own disciplines, in order to go towards the other and be enriched by the other’s discipline. I will try to bring ahead the dynamics of this workshop – listening, reciprocity, sharing ,– in everyday life.” G.F. a Social Sciences student: “The novelty lies in the effort you spoke about, of focusing on the relationship between sports and the culture of unity, in the perspective of an integral vision of the person and society: we still have a lot more to discovery.” M.P. a Natural Sciences graduate: “I knew nothing about Sophia… I think it is a worthy answer to our times. In the same way as in the ecosystem, where all is interconnected, I believe that whatever we do has its impact without exclusions and at all latitudes. We are all called to dialogue, fully aware of the consequences of our actions.” C.G., at the end of his doctorate in Constitutional Law : “It’s great to start the day with the moment of reflection on the “starting point” – the in-depth study of a short passage of the Scriptures to be translated into daily life – so as to give a framework to one’s day, a starting point. Now I can also give my contribution… and build the spirit of Sophia in my university.” Source: Sophia online