Lesson on inclusion and social responsibility: the final chapter of the International Part-time MBA 2022 at Bollate prison

Inclusion, social engagement and reintegration

The final chapter of POLIMI Graduate School of Management’s 2022 edition of the International Part-Time MBA took on a special value for students as it was held at the II Casa di Reclusione in Bollate, Milan. Inclusion, social engagement and reintegration were the topics around which this initiative was developed, organised in collaboration with bee.4 altre menti (other minds), a social enterprise that offers opportunities for redemption to those who have encountered prison during their life, developing activities geared towards re-employment.

After a brief visit to bee.4’s Competence Centre Area, the meeting began with an introduction by the Director of the Master, Professor Daniel Trabucchi, and the Director of Bollate prison, Giorgio Leggieri, who stressed the importance and value in society of reintegration into work.

Marco Girardello, HR Manager at the Cooperative, then spoke about how the social enterprise was born and has evolved over the years, highlighting the values and objectives that guide the organisation.

Following this, Francesca Scipione, Customer Care Manager at Dolomiti Energia, described how the collaboration with bee.4 had not only enriched her career path, but also strengthened her company’s social responsibility values.

Subsequently, Ludovico Zuffinetti, Project Manager at Replica Sistemi, spoke about his experience, first as a student of the International Part-time MBA and then as a partner of bee.4 other minds, explaining how the training received and the subsequent collaboration with social enterprise have profoundly influenced his management approach and his vision of the role of business in society.

The meeting concluded with the testimonies of some inmates, currently employed by bee.4 other minds and Replica Sistemi, who described how these work opportunities represented a second chance for them, allowing them to develop professional skills and reintegrate into society.

Reintegration into work: an opportunity for inclusion and social growth

The main objective of the meeting was to provide students with a direct and concrete vision of the work reintegration activities taking place inside the prison.
Bee.4 other minds is an example of how social engagement can be transformed into a powerful tool for inclusion and growth, offering prisoners not only a job opportunity, but also a new perspective on life.

As the Director of the International Part-Time MBA, Professor Daniel Trabucchi, maintains: “Bee4’s work shows how it is possible to bring about innovation with a strong social impact even – and above all – in situations where resources are the most limited. The ability to change perspective and find a new way of tackling problems are the great messages this testimony leaves us. It is an honour to be able to close this MBA with such an enriching testimony from a human point of view.”

Initiatives such as these can not only enrich students' education by showing the importance of corporate social responsibility, but also offer a deeper understanding of the dynamics and challenges of reintegration. Reintegration into society is the primary concern within Bollate prison, and Bee4 other minds represents an extraordinary bridge with the outside world of work.

The value of social redemption and managerial responsibility

The event was a moment of great reflection and growth for all participants. The International Part-Time MBA students had the opportunity to confront realities other than their daily lives, learning valuable lessons about the importance of social redemption and inclusion in work, but also about the social responsibility that, as managers and future leaders, they will have over the course of their professional careers.