The University of Bologna Welcomes its International Students

The University of Bologna welcomed its first-year international students through the event Welcome to UniBo: explore, connect, belong: a programme full of initiatives which aimeddesigned to support them in the early stages of their academic career, to foster peer relationships and help them discover the city.

On Monday 20 October, the Official Welcome in the Aula Magna of the Department of Economics opened the series of appointments. The event began with the institutional greetings by the Vice Rector for International Relations, Raffaella Campaner, followed by an introduction to the University’s main services and opportunities , curated by the International Desk.

One of the most engaging moments was the Students Ambassadors’ Open Mic: five students coming from five different continents – Jessica Euler (Germany), Darwin Nicolas Patiño Tituana (Ecuador), Aiswarya Varadarajan Nair (India), Malak Sherif Mohamed Ali Elwageeh (Egypt) and Aaron Robert Watters (Australia) – shared their experiences and practical advice on how to settle in Bologna.

On Tuesday 21 October, the students had the opportunity to visit the University Library and the European Museum of Students (MEUS) during two simultaneous tours. The visit to MEUS – the only museum in Europe entirely dedicated to the life of students – allowed them to undertake a unique journey through more than eight centuries of university culture.

On Wednesday 22 and Thursday 23 October there were two guided city tours curated by the Student Ambassadors: Bologna Essentials: a Student’s First Walk and Bologna Unfolded: Stories of Towers and Traditions. These tours became a chance to discover Bologna and its traditions – among historical streets, monuments, and students’ favourite spots -, and to gain valuable advice on how to get the most out of the city.