CORDA/IDEA project

The CORDA project is a pre-university initiative run cooperatively by secondary schools and universities. It aims to provide advice and guidance, and reduce academic deficiencies among male and female secondary school students.
These are preparatory courses in the subjects of mathematics, computer science and English, taught by teachers from the participating secondary schools, under the supervision of the University as regards the programme, the minimum number of hours (set at 40), the maximum number of students per class (usually 25), teacher training and the final examination.
The project activity takes place during the last year of higher education, outside normal class time, and ends in February. Attending students take a final examination which takes place at the University (except at the most distant locations). Depending on the degree course, passing this test may lead to benefits and rewards for the student.
In addition, the ten students with the highest score will have their first instalment of university fees waived if they enrol at Parma.
 

The IDEA project was created with the aim of linking the school and university systems. Secondary school teachers, selected from among those who have applied to take part, carry out exercises and tutoring for students in the first years of First- and Single-cycle degree courses at the University of Parma, after planning and coordinating this activity with the teachers of the relevant university courses.
This activity constitutes both training and refresher courses for secondary school teachers and tutoring for students who are offered help in passing their exams.