The history of the Ipsar of Arzachena narrated by the school’s principal Antonello Pannella

Founded by Prince Aga Khan, today the institute is a leader in tourism education in Sardinia

In the heart of Gallura immersed in the scent of the Mediterranean macchia and the intense blue of the sea, there is an institution that has made a vital contribution to the development of Sardinia: the Istituto Professionale per i Servizi Alberghieri e della Ristorazione Costa Smeralda of Arzachena.

Established in 1965 by Prince Karim Aga Khan, the Ipsar is not just a school but a place where students can enhance their professionalism and vision. We met with Antonello Pannella, the school’s director, to tell us about the story of this school which celebrates its 60th anniversary this year, its evolution and the challenges faced in training the future players of the tourism industry.

The Ipsar was an idea of Prince Karim Aga Khan. Can you tell us how this project came to be and what connection it had – and continues to have – with Gallura?

The Costa Smeralda® project was not only a real estate development project, like people would often think. The Aga Khan had ideas for an Integrated Development Plan where tourism would have triggered the growth of all the other economic sectors of this territory. To turn his vision into a reality, it was necessary to train skilled professionals. A real culture of hospitality did not exist at that time in Gallura: mostly because there were no facilities for tourists. It was still a poor area where people mainly lived on agriculture and farming. The Prince immediately realised that a catering and hospitality school would be essential. The school was inaugurated in 1965 with the support of the Municipality of Arzachena and the Sardinia Region.

The school has become a standard today in catering and hospitality training. What has changed compared to the beginning?

And is the original vision still valid? Today, we are the professional school with the highest job placement rate in Sardinia. This has been confirmed with the data of the Eduscopio research carried out by the Agnelli Foundation. This is our most concrete connection with the territory: we train young people to make them ready for the world of work, and we do it with a plan that goes beyond Gallura and extends to the whole of the island. Our boarding school welcomes students from all parts of Sardinia and many of our former students today hold roles of great responsibility: hotel directors, managers for important tourism companies or internationally renowned chefs. The level of training and the students aspirations have grown considerably.

What are the challenges and opportunities today for a school such as your one, considering that the tourism industry is constantly evolving?

The world we live in changes rapidly, and tourism is one of the most dynamic sectors. For this reason, the Ipsar is a school open to the whole world: our students participate in mobility and international cooperation projects. At the same time, we welcome students of all different nationalities. We were able to innovate, always updating the curriculum. For example, starting from next year, we will have a new Liceo Linguistico. This project is an answer to the increasing need for an international idea of hospitality, attentive to different languages and cultures. I believe this was the dream of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan: a land capable of combining excellence, openness and vision.