Universit� degli studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

Inauguration of the 2024/2025 Unimore academic year at the Modena Prison

On the basis of the agreement between Unimore, the Sant'Anna Prison and ER.GO - Azienda regionale per il Diritto agli Studi Superiori dell'Emilia Romagna (Regional Agency for the Right to Higher Studies in Emilia Romagna), stipulated in 2022, which allows inmates in the facility to access Unimore's degree programmes, a special inauguration ceremony for the 2024/2025 academic year was held this morning, for the first time, at the Modena Prison.

The current 9 detained students are enrolled in the Departments of: Law, Life Sciences, Education and Humanities, Communication and Economics and Chemical and Geological Sciences.

The event was attended by the Magnificent Rector Prof. Carlo Adolfo Porro, the Director of the Sant'Anna Prison, Dr. Orazio Sorrentini, the Commander of the Penitentiary Police, Massimo Bertini, Prof. Susanna Pietralunga, professor of Criminology at Unimore and contact person for the agreement between the University and the Prison, who gave the speech ‘Historical evolution of punishment: from public torture to resocialisation. The role of the University'. Before her, one of the Unimore students detained at the Sant'Anna Casa Circondariale also spoke.

In attendance were two professors for each Unimore Department involved, a group of Prof. Pietralunga's students who act as tutors for Unimore students detained at the Sant'Anna Prison, a group of about thirty detainees involved in degree programmes and numerous local and regional authorities.

‘The University represents a place where culture knows no boundaries and where people, regardless of their conditions, can access concrete tools for emancipation. The participation of students, lecturers and institutional authorities in this ceremony bears witness to a common commitment to promoting an inclusive model of education, which recognises the dignity and value of each individual. A path, this one, that not only concerns access to knowledge, but the possibility of building a new sense of self through confrontation with the disciplines and the community. Education can be a key to transforming a difficult condition into an opportunity for authentic and lasting change,' commented Rector Prof. Carlo Adolfo Porro.

Thanks to the agreement in force, inmates detained at the Prison, in possession of a suitable qualification, can apply for enrolment in the programmes activated at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and, after having taken the knowledge tests or passed the envisaged admission tests, undertake university studies. Depending on the characteristics of the degree programmes, the available resources and the logistical and security constraints, the University identifies the programmes suitable for prison conditions for which it provides specific forms of assistance and support for study, including the organisation of admission tests within the Institute.

The agreement also provides for financial concessions aimed at favouring enrolment in programmes at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia of 1st and 2nd cycle and single cycle for people in detention and Prison Administration personnel working at the prison.

Unimore applies in particular, for people in a state of detention, total exemption from payment of university fees (with the exception of the regional contribution, insurance and stamp duty) as well as allowances and contributions for specific purposes (e.g. enrolment in selections and admission tests) except for stamp duty.

Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng