Digital instructional design per un progetto di internazionalizzazione del sistema universitario italiano

This paper aims to highlight the theoretical and practical choices that led to the creation of three courses (Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced) within the MUR project ‘Per l’internazionalizzazione del sistema universitario: lingua e cultura italiana ed europea in ambiente digitale’. This project includes the creation, testing, and validation of digital content of Italian language and culture, as well as of European culture, to improve the attractiveness of the Italian university system. Furthermore, the project promotes the creation of a virtual learning environment, supporting the development of digital and basic skills at the same time. Starting from the need to provide content and textual models to a group of university students whose Italian language skills may be even basic - and from an analysis of their educational needs (Fragai et al. 2017) - the paper aims to discuss the motivations that led to define those learning objectives, strategies, texts and digital teaching activities that could be salient for international students and accessible to them based on their starting language level (European Council 2020). The paper will therefore discuss the critical points and criteria o has been tested in Italy and other countries from June to October 2024, to verify the expected result, i.e., a wider knowledge of Italian language and culture, a better orientation within the Italian university system, and the academic success of international students.