Unimore opens Academic Year 2024/2025 with Nobel Prize winner Parisi
The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia celebrated the inauguration of the 2024/2025 Academic Year, an event that involved the academic community and representatives of the territory in a period of reflection and planning.
The ceremony was opened by the report of the Magnificent Rector, Prof. Carlo Adolfo Porro, and was attended by important guests, including the Nobel Prize winner for Physics Giorgio Parisi, who gave a lectio magistralis.
The event also marked the path towards a historic milestone: the 850th anniversary of the University.
An Athenaeum with ancient historical roots and a vision attentive to new challenges
In his speech, the Magnificent Rector traced a bridge between tradition and the future of the University.
‘Unimore was founded in 1175 when the jurist Pillio da Medicina moved to Modena and developed around Roman law, which represented the frontier of knowledge at the time,’ the Rector explained. From those roots, the University has gone through centuries of transformations, becoming a centre of excellence for teaching and research, deeply integrated with the territory and open to the world.
The Rector pointed out that the newly inaugurated Academic Year will be dedicated to consolidating Unimore's role as an engine of cultural, social and economic development, with a focus on sustainability and inclusion.
A growing academic community
Unimore now has over 31,500 members, including students, female students, teaching staff, researchers and administrative technicians, with significant gender parity (53% are women). ‘The increase in permanent teaching and research staff is 13% compared to 2019, technical-administrative and library staff has grown by 10%, while Language Expert Collaborators have increased by 29%,’ said the Rector.
Specifically, Prof. Porro highlighted the progress in terms of inclusion: ‘The presence of women in top positions has increased from 27.5% to 30% among full professors, from 29% to 55% among managers, and from 38% to 45% among Tenure Track Researchers: a factor that demonstrates our concrete commitment to equality.’
Unimore and the future of education: EduNext and new degree programmes
One of the most innovative areas presented by the Rector is EduNext, a project that places Unimore at the forefront of digital education. ‘Our University's role as leader in one of the three national networks that won the MUR call for proposals for Digital Education Hubs, aimed at improving the capacity of the higher education system to offer digital education, and at the same time the establishment of a Teaching and Learning Centre; complementary activities in the indispensable evolution of our didactics,’ explained Prof. Porro.
In the meantime, the University has activated new degree programmes in strategic areas such as health, digital and sustainability. We are talking about the Bachelor's Degree Programme in Green and Sustainable Chemistry , which will be based in Mantua, the Master's Degree Programme in Nursing and Midwifery Sciences and the Master's Degree Programme in Bioengineering for Innovation in Medicine , both based in Modena. Three training courses that meet the needs of a rapidly evolving labour market and consolidate Unimore's role as a national and European reference training centre.
Internationalisation: the role of Unigreen
Unimore confirms an international leadership role in research and cooperation through the Unigreen project, part of the European Alliance for Sustainability. ‘We have set up a joint PhD in Agrifood Sciences with four other European universities, coordinated by Unimore,’ explained the Magnificent Rector. A further virtuous example of transnational collaboration, aimed at training a new generation of researchers in key sectors for the future of the planet.
Unimore for peace
Against this backdrop, the Rector reiterated Unimore's commitment as a member of the RUniPace network - the Network of Italian Universities for Peace promoted by the Conference of Italian University Rectors - and joined his voice to the call for a ceasefire in international conflicts.
Research
With regard to research, the University has experienced a 125% increase in financial resources compared to 2019, with an increasing number of projects linked to the National Recovery and Resilience Plan and international programmes.
A campus in constant evolution: the building plan
Unimore is also an ‘open construction site’ in terms of infrastructure. The ‘Unimore Campus Upgrade’ project envisages the redevelopment of spaces for teaching, research and student accommodation, with a special focus on environmental sustainability.
‘We have managed to activate over EUR 70 million in public and private funding, including ministerial and regional funds and the support of territorial foundations,’ said the Rector. These investments, together with the granting of a long-term credit line from the European Investment Bank, guarantee the economic sustainability of the project and keep the University's debt ratio well below the warning limits.
An appeal to the institutions
In his speech, the Rector made a heartfelt appeal to the political class: ‘The public university must be considered essential partner for the present and future of the country.
Specifically, Prof. Porro stressed the importance of a stable and continuous dialogue with the institutions to ensure the full development of the university health system and the strengthening of medical faculties.
Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng
Articolo pubblicato da: Ufficio Stampa Unimore - ufficiostampa@unimore.it