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In an increasingly competitive job market, practical experience can be the crucial element that helps graduates stand out. H-FARM College is the higher education arm of H-FARM, a venture builder that has been spreading the culture of digital innovation since 2005. The academic programmes and student experience at the college are designed using a blended approach, combining theoretical and practical learning. “We realised we had built knowledge of entrepreneurship and innovation along the way and that this was a value we could leverage,” says Raffaele Testorelli, associate dean of faculty at H-FARM College.
Undergraduate and postgraduate degrees at the college fall under two broad categories: business and management, and innovation and technology. Undergraduate students enrolled in degree programmes offered in partnership with the University of Chichester in the UK share a common set of courses in their first year. From the second year onwards, they specialise in different fields depending on their chosen bachelor’s degree, such as AI, entrepreneurship, business and finance. The student experience is made up of equal parts hands-on experience and theoretical learning.
Thanks to its roots, H-FARM College operates within an ecosystem of entrepreneurs and start-ups, offering students opportunities for practical learning. “We expand students’ experience through initiatives such as hackathons and challenges so they can put into practice the theoretical knowledge they have from lectures and develop new knowledge in a more adaptive way,” Testorelli says. The college encourages students to build their own network and organises events where they can meet people with expertise in their areas of interest.
Another route learners can take to develop practical knowledge is to build their own business. Students can develop start-up ventures during their studies, with guidance from experts at H-FARM’s Entrepreneurship and Startup Center. H-FARM has produced a number of successful start-ups, such as the second-hand fashion app Depop, which became Italy’s second unicorn – a term that refers to a company that is privately owned and valued at over $1 billion (£745 million). Among the notable H-FARM College students who have founded their own company is Chiara Schettino, who was featured in Forbes Italy’s Under 30 list in 2024. Schettino is the co-founder of Rosso, a startup that built an integrated digital platform to streamline the blood donation process in Europe.
The student experience at H-FARM College is more akin to a workplace than traditional campus life, explains Testorelli. “We treat students as colleagues. This helps to create an environment where discussions are easy and the learning experience more engaging,” he says. Students’ personal development is nurtured through programmes that identify their strengths and direct them towards the extensive support available on campus.
Modes of assessment are also fluid, reflecting the experiential nature of the academic journey at H-FARM College. Students are evaluated throughout their programme and receive feedback along the way. Classes are designed to develop their critical thinking through dynamic lectures and tasks such as analysing complex scenarios and information. In 2025, 91 per cent of graduates secured a job within six months of finishing their course, and many went on to pursue international careers.
As markets and employer expectations evolve, H-FARM College is committed to growing its partnerships so it can act as a global hub for this style of education. “We are living in particularly uncertain times,” Testorelli says. “Careers are no longer linear, so it’s more important to create a mindset in students rather than provide knowledge. They need to be able to connect the dots and capture signals from the market. We want to give them that competitive edge.”
Find out more about H-FARM College.
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