Unimore Presents First Sustainability Report: Over €270 Million Generated, 92 Active Courses and 190,000 Square Metres Managed
On 15 May, during a press conference, the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia presented the first Sustainability Report in its history, referring to the year 2023. The report was approved by academic bodies following a comprehensive process that lasted over a year. The presentation took place in the Aula Magna of the Rectorate building, in the presence of the Rector, Professor Carlo Adolfo Porro, the Scientific Technical Committee responsible for drafting the report, and Professors Daniela Quaglino and Paolo Tartarini, delegated respectively for “Planning” and “Energy Issues and University Buildings”.
The committee was composed of Professor Grazia Ghermandi, former Rector’s Delegate for Sustainability, Professor Anna Maria Ferrari, Professor Ulpiana Kocollari, and Dr Sofia Costanzini. The work involved all departments and units of the University in a coordinated process of data collection and validation, aligned with GRI (Global Reporting Initiative) standards, RUS-GBS guidelines, and principles of the UN 2030 Agenda.
Over €270 million in the 2023 budget, with a 44% increase in retained value for reinvestment
The Sustainability Report provides, for the first time, an integrated analysis of the total impact generated by Unimore on the local area and academic community. In 2023, the University managed over €270 million: €204 million from public and private contributions, and €64 million from self-generated income. Retained economic value—reinvested directly in research, teaching, and infrastructure—rose by 44% compared to 2022, reaching €53.5 million.
Among key strategic investments are €48.9 million allocated to student support, including scholarships and financial aid, and €8.7 million paid in taxes to the state.
92 active study programmes, 14,000 scientific publications, 60 patents maintained
In the 2022/2023 academic year, Unimore offered 92 degree programmes (up from 82 in 2020), including 40 Master’s programmes, along with 17 PhD programmes and 49 specialist schools. The student body exceeds 28,000, with a female majority of 54%. 85% of undergraduate students report satisfaction with the quality of teaching, and the employment rate one year after graduation for Master’s graduates exceeds 86%.
In the field of research, the University recorded nearly 14,000 scientific publications over the past five years, 199 active international projects, and 60 patents maintained in 2023. Research continues to show a positive trend, with a notable focus on themes linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
190,000 square metres, 60 buildings, new construction projects worth nearly €7 million
Unimore’s estate includes more than 60 buildings located in Modena, Reggio Emilia, Carpi and Mantua, covering over 190,000 square metres and 700,000 cubic metres of heated space. The 2023 energy analysis recorded thermal energy consumption of 10,541 MWh, significantly down from 14,421 MWh in 2021, and over 11,000 MWh of electricity use.
Two major energy-efficiency renovation projects—solar panel systems and relamping—at the Science and Engineering Campuses in Modena are part of the 2023–2025 Energy Plan. These projects secured substantial regional funding, support from the European Investment Bank (EIB), and internal funds, amounting to a total of €6.46 million.
Mobility and waste: 88,000 plastic bottles saved, five-stream waste separation
In 2023, Unimore enhanced promotion of sustainable mobility, offering incentives for commuting students, supporting carpooling, and conducting detailed flow analyses between Modena, Reggio Emilia, and the new sites in Carpi and Mantua.
At the same time, waste separation was improved across five streams (paper, plastic, toner cartridges, batteries, ink cartridges), with dedicated collection stations installed at all sites. The “Unimore plastic-free” initiative, launched in 2021, involved the distribution of aluminium water bottles, saving over 87,000 single-use plastic bottles in 2023 alone.
Inclusion, equity, and organisational wellbeing: the social value of public universities
The Report also provides a snapshot of the University’s internal community: nearly 1,000 lecturers and researchers, over 700 technical and administrative staff, and a growing corporate welfare system promoting health and gender equality. The “Unimore for Gender Equality” project, launched in 2023, stands as a key pillar of social engagement.
Special focus is also given to AMULA, the mutual aid association created to offer healthcare protection for scholarship holders, research fellows, and atypical workers in the academic research environment.
Transparency and vision: a document for the academic community and local area
“This report,” emphasised Rector Carlo Adolfo Porro , “reflects the strong belief that the University plays a central role in building the future, far beyond classroom and laboratory walls. Here, skills are developed, knowledge is generated, and relationships are formed that shape the economic, environmental, and social dynamics of the region. Making these functions visible means embracing political responsibility in the highest sense, responding through action to the public mandate entrusted to the University.”
“Value is created,” the Rector continued, “through investment in quality education, competitive research, sustainable infrastructure, and equal opportunities. Value also comes from recognising technical professions, expanding access to knowledge, and returning received resources to the region in the form of skills, innovation, and shared wellbeing. This report brings all of this together: numbers, practices, trajectories.”
“Thanks go to all who contributed to the report, beginning with the Scientific Technical Committee and all the departments involved. This is a first step, but also a clear signal that sustainability is regarded as a core principle of governance,” concluded Professor Porro.
The drafting process also involved students, families, public bodies, associations and businesses, through consultation and stakeholder engagement that gathered expectations, priorities and proposals to inform future strategic directions.
Categorie: International - english, Notizie_eng
Articolo pubblicato da: Ufficio Stampa Unimore - ufficiostampa@unimore.it