The PNRR and its international dimension

The restart according to the university world, debate in UCBM

October 29, 2021 - A thematic workshop entitled "The international dimension of the PNRR” with the aim of reflecting on the prospects for the internationalization of the university system with a view to strategically relaunching the role and identity of the university. 

The conference recorded various stimuli on the theme of innovation and internationalization as requisites required in a knowledge-intensive context, which can stimulate young people to gain experience in the international networks of academies. Indeed, the experience of the pandemic has led to the birth of new training and strengthening paradigms of fundamental importance for the future management class.

Among the interventions, moderated by the director of TG3 Mario Orfeo, the honorable Irene Tinagli, President of the Economic and Financial Affairs Commission of the European Parliament, highlighted that “New resources are needed to modernize universities, broaden the possibilities offered to students and guarantee them study conditions. On the other hand - continues Tinagli - it is necessary to ensure that the training offer is adequate and in line with the needs of the modern world. The PNRR addresses these two points by providing for targeted investments and reforms to modernize the university system, and by adopting a holistic approach which aims to create a link between the deficiencies of the university system and the needs of the productive/industrial world. We need to create synergy between these two worlds, to ensure that Italy is in the future not only a center of training, but also an attractive research and innovation center that occupies a relevant place on an international level."

The Director General of the MUR, Pierluigi Consuls, outlined the main actions that the Ministry of University and Research plans to implement, also speaking of the complementary measures and the recently introduced reforms. Subsequently, it introduced those in planning and, finally, the Italian performance in the recently concluded Framework Programme, Horizon 2020. Piergiorgio Bianchi of Talents Venture found that “The share of foreign students, coming from 161 different countries, reached 5,35% of the total students enrolled in the a.y. 2020/2021. Driving the growth are small universities (less than 1.000 enrolled) in which the share of foreign enrolled has reached 6,80%. Among these stands out theUniversità Campus Bio-medico di Roma which, in the post-pandemic year, doubled the share of its foreign registered students, ranking third after Messina and Foro Italico in this particular ranking". Favorite courses include Architecture, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and ICT Technologies. "To combat this trend - concluded Bianchi - Italian universities will have to renew their educational offer in the areas with the greatest potential, focus communication activities on foreign students, also thanks to positioning in international rankings and finally use the resources of the PNRR to attract qualified human capital and build residential spaces to welcome those who want to choose Italy as a destination for their university studies”. Claudia Peritore of the National Agency Emasmus+ underlined how the Erasmus program can offer a wide range of solutions for the international growth of universities through its new modes of mobility and international cooperation: "The program for 2021-2027 foresees an investment of 26 billion euros to contribute over the next seven years to achieving the flagship objectives of European policies such as social inclusion, environmental protection, digital transformation and participation in democratic life".

As it highlights Maurice Tira, Rector of the University of Brescia and CRUI Delegate for International Affairs: "The resources of the PNRR are a very important opportunity to develop the activities of the Italian university system, both in the component linked to human capital (and therefore also to the attractiveness from abroad), and research, by definition with international openings”. Among the necessary measures, Tira mentions the creation of 10 transnational educational initiatives in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, support for 5 internationalization projects of AFAM institutions, to promote their role abroad in the preservation and promotion of Italian culture, finally the European University Alliances (there are 24 participating Italian institutions) which can constitute a decisive impetus for the construction of European degree courses, with multiple degrees.  

"Adopting the Italian-English bilingualism both at an educational and administrative level, encouraging the arrival of foreign teachers in Italy with the integration of skills in research laboratory activities": these are the measures that according to Prof. Paolo Pozzilli, President of the Medicine and Surgery degree course ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, can attract foreign students, especially non-EU students. Among the other necessary measures, according to Pozzilli, are the strengthening of national centers and the promotion of basic research with funding for young researchers, as well as the definition of programs at national level.

The speech of the President of Uni-Italia, Francesco Profumo, noted how in the challenge of returning to the new post-pandemic normality, the investments of the PNRR can play a fundamental role by laying the foundations for improving the quality of life of citizens, and therefore also of students, and how by supporting the promotion of the dimension international level of higher education and research, it is possible to facilitate the circulation of knowledge also in the productive system.

In addition to the greeting from the Magnificent Rector of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, Raffaele Calabrò, the university has awarded, as part of the #Nevergiveup competition, funded by the University, 8 students enrolled or graduates in an Italian university who have carried out a period of international mobility during the Covid-19 pandemic. The award concerns Bachelor's or Master's Degree Courses in Medicine and Surgery or pertaining to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) disciplines. Subject of the competition: videos posted by kids on Instagram on their academic, work and/or socio-cultural experience during the health emergency.