The paper titled "Goal-Setting for Success: Integrating Physical and Academic Growth at NECSTLab," authored by Laura Ginestretti, Andrea Alberti, and Marco Santambrogio, has received the Best Paper Award in the Multidisciplinary and Transdisciplinary Education category at EDUCON2025.
This recognition highlights the innovative path initiated by NECSTLab at the Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering – Politecnico di Milano within LEONARDO - The Multimagineering Project. The project aims to integrate physical activities, such as the Spartan Race and CrossFit, into university educational programs, with the goal of fostering both personal and academic growth among students.
Inspired by the famous quote from Randy Pausch — "The brick walls are there to show how badly we want something” — the project places a strong emphasis on developing self-awareness, self-efficiency, and resilience. Through challenging activities like obstacle races and high-intensity training, students are encouraged to confront their physical and mental limits, experiencing dynamics similar to those encountered during their academic journey. The collaboration with coaches Andrea Alberti and Giulia Zomegnan has been crucial in ensuring the effectiveness of the proposed activities. The adopted approach aims to "teach fundamental skills undercover," leveraging the deep connection between motor control, neural development, and cognitive functions. Numerous pedagogical studies confirm that physical activity positively impacts cognitive abilities, strengthening the mind-body connection.
The integration of sports philosophy and educational methodology has proven to be an effective tool for enhancing students' academic performance, increasing personal motivation, boosting adaptability, and promoting a deeper understanding of themselves.
The Best Paper Award stands as an important recognition of the value of this innovative educational vision and testifies to NECSTLab’s commitment to promoting a holistic approach to the training of future generations.
