In the general perception, Research and Education form a dichotomy, for it is hard to couple them into productive and virtuous cycles. At NECSTLab, we embrace such a dichotomy, pushing it further by expanding our view over a third axis: personal well- being/ness.

We call it NECSTCamp.

The NECSTCamp project is organized over 4 Levels bundled in 2 Phases of 2 Levels each; more in detail, each Level spans from 1 up to 3 semesters. During each Level, the participants face challenges as part of a series of activities drawn from 3 areas: Learning, Personal Well-being/ness, Research. Nutrition, sleep and psychology counselors, coaches, research and study mentors build our expert team to assemble a holistic teaching experience. For instance, coaches challenge participants in sports activities. This experience drives their motivation to increase their adaptability and self-efficiency in the Personal Well- being/ness area. All of this encourages the participants to realize their true potential towards better knowing and accepting themselves.

The NECSTCamp project is organised in 4 Levels grouped into 2 Phases of 2 Levels each; more specifically, each Level extends from 1 to 3 semesters. During each Level, participants face challenges as part of a series of activities drawn from 3 areas: Learning, Personal Wellbeing, Research. Nutritionists, sleep experts and psychologists, coaches, research and study mentors make up our team of experts to create a holistic learning experience. For example, coaches stimulate participants in sporting activities, an activity that aims to improve not only adaptability and self-sufficiency in the area of Personal Well-being, but also in study and research, selling the proposed sporting activities as a parallel to their life in the classroom and laboratory. All this encourages participants to realise their true potential towards a better knowledge and acceptance of themselves.

Each phase has its exit activity: an experience that encourages the participants to measure themselves over the skills and competencies they have become more aware of. The NECST Group Conference (NGC) is the last of these exit activities. It offers the participant the final exposure to the real world thanks to talks at outstanding companies’ headquarters and first- class universities’ laboratories and research groups.

Finally, diversity is affirmed and recognized as a defining element: something that unites us all, distinguishing us. Students should not experience diversity as a limiting factor, but as something that makes them unique. NECSTCamp works on this awareness, and thus on the acceptance that each of us is simply different. Often we are our own worst judge: mindfulness becomes a means to be happier in our daily lives, understand our priorities and pursue them.