A Galt-born educator who has been living and teaching in Italy for more than three decades has received a prestigious teaching award.
Daniele Manni won the judges commendation award in the prestigious Gess Education Awards 2023 in Dubai on Oct. 31.
Manni’s selection by an international jury is a testament to his outstanding contributions to education, says a press release.
"He stands out for his unwavering commitment to nurturing and guiding students in the development of their own startups."
Over the years, Manni has pioneered a comprehensive four-year self-entrepreneurship curriculum, which empowers students to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys.
He is lauded for being "a true advocate for student-centric learning. Under his mentorship, his students have successfully established high-impact social enterprises.
Manni was the sole Canadian Italian educator among the esteemed group of 100 finalists up for nine awards last week in Dubai.
The 64-year-old, who lives and teaches in Lecce, Salento, Italy, has been teaching computer science at the “Galilei-Costa” Institute in Lecce for 33 years.
He has been actively involved in Entrepreneurship Education for two decades. Despite his extensive contributions within Italy, Manni has also gained recognition on the international stage.
In 2015, he was selected as one of the top 50 finalists worldwide for the Global Teacher Prize, often referred to as the “Nobel” prize for teachers.
Furthermore, in 2018 and 2020, he achieved podium placements at the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Teaching Awards. In 2020, Manni made history by becoming the first Italian teacher to be awarded the Global Teacher Award. Among his numerous accolades in Italy, he was honored with the title of Teacher of the Year in 2020.
