University Highlights: Key Resolutions – January 2025

COMMUNICATIONS

Inauguration of the 2024-2025 Academic Year

On Saturday, 1 March, the University of Bologna will inaugurate the 2024-2025 Academic Year in the Aula Magna of Santa Lucia. The guest of honour will be Mr Koen Lenaerts, President of the Court of Justice of the European Union. At the end of his keynote lecture, he will receive the Sigillum Magnum of the University.

Annual Report by the Confidential Counsellor

Professor Fiorella Giusberti, reappointed as Confidential Counsellor for the next two years, has presented her report for the period from 1 April to 22 November 2024. As an institutional figure responsible for combating discrimination and harassment in work and study environments, the Counsellor handled 49 reports, distributed among faculty and researchers (33%), PhD candidates and research fellows (27%), students (25%), and technical-administrative staff (15%), with a predominance of female cases and cases from departments.

Good Practice Project: 2023/2024 Results

The results of efficiency and effectiveness analyses, as well as customer satisfaction surveys conducted as part of the 2023-2024 Good Practice project, have been presented. In many areas, the University maintains a higher positive evaluation than other large Italian universities. The findings—particularly from surveys addressed to the University community—will support the planning, programming, and control cycle aimed at continuous quality improvement.

Quality Assurance Guidelines for Public Engagement Activities

The University’s Quality Assurance Committee has published new guidelines, developed in accordance with AVA3 principles and the 2020-2024 VQR, providing an operational and methodological framework for designing Public Engagement initiatives and assessing their impact.

APPOINTMENTS

President of BUB and Historical Archive

Upon the Rector’s proposal and in agreement with the Delegate for Cultural Heritage, Professor Francesco Citti has been appointed President of the University Library of Bologna (BUB) and the Historical Archive.

Evaluation Group (2025-2028) and Related Regulations

The members of the Evaluation Group for the 2025-2028 term have been appointed. Seven members have been selected, including a representative of the student community (the only internal member of the University). The related operating regulations have also been approved.

HEARINGS

2024 Annual Report of the Evaluation Group (NdV)

Professor Paolo Collini, President of the Evaluation Group, presented the main Quality Assurance (QA) activities carried out by the University in 2023 and the progress made in 2024. The report also includes the Committee’s recommendations for the continuous improvement of the QA system in organizational, administrative, educational, research, and third mission areas.

TEACHING

2025-2026 Programme Catalogue

The University of Bologna’s academic offer for the 2025-2026 academic year will consist of 260 degree programmes, including 114 international ones. Some programmes will be discontinued in a move toward greater sustainability, and a new degree programme in Veterinary Medicine will be introduced—the first of its kind in Italy to be taught in English. The University has also approved the training capacity and international student quotas for programmes with nationally or locally regulated enrolment limits, along with modifications to degree programme structures.

Specialization Schools in Healthcare (for non-medical graduates), Veterinary, and Psychology – 2025-2026 Academic Year

For the 2025-2026 academic year, the University will offer seven Specialization Schools in the Healthcare Field for non-medical graduates, one in the Veterinary Field, and one in the Psychology Field. The University will fund two merit- and income-based scholarships for each school.

RESEARCH AND THIRD MISSION

Monitoring Report on Spin-off Companies and Startups

The University has presented the latest monitoring report on its accredited spin-off companies and startups. In accordance with the University’s Regulations on Spin-offs and Startups, 54 companies have been analysed.

Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Bologna and ISPRA

Approval has been granted to renew the Memorandum of Understanding with the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research (ISPRA), a public research institution specializing in environmental issues and supporting the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security. The agreement also covers emerging areas such as environmental and hydrogeological emergency management and disaster management.

INTERNATIONALISATION

Framework Agreements with Universities in Brazil, the USA, and Singapore

A framework agreement will be signed with Universidade Federal de São Paulo (Brasile), governing cooperation between the two universities in student and faculty exchanges, research, curriculum internship design, seminars, symposia, and conferences. The renewal of framework agreements with Pennsylvania State University (USA) and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore) is also planned. Additionally, the University has approved the 2025-2027 Strategic Guidelines, the annual operational activity plan, and the 2025 budget forecast of the Fundación Alma Mater.

BUDGET, PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT

Integrated Plan of Activities and Organisation (PIAO) 2025-2027

The University has approved the Integrated Plan of activities and Organization (PIAO) for the three-year period 2025-2027 (in Italian only)summarizing its planning documents and defining institutional performance objectives. The PIAO ensures the coordination of activities to improve efficiency, process effectiveness, user-perceived quality, and public value impact. It includes measures to prevent corruption risks, promote transparency, develop remote work policies, and plan personnel needs and training.

PERSONNEL AND ORGANIZATION

Gender Equality Plan (GEP) 2025-2027

The University has approved the 2025-2027 Gender Equality Plan (GEP), a strategic document that complements other University tools, such as the Strategic Plan and the Gender Equality Report, to reduce gender asymmetries, combat discrimination, and enhance diversity within the University community. Structured into five macro-areas, with eleven objectives and thirty-four actions accompanied by indicators, the new GEP includes targeted interventions on work-life balance, organizational culture, and stereotype prevention, as well as gender balance in leadership positions and the integration of gender perspectives in research and education. It also strengthens and expands existing measures against gender-based violence.

Regulations on Tenure-Track Researchers (RTT)

Approval has been granted for the revision of the Regulations on Tenure-Track Researchers in light of Ministerial Decree 1658/2024, which defines evaluation criteria for tenure-track researchers with national scientific qualifications for appointment as associate professors. The revised text also incorporates subsequent regulatory provisions and ensures alignment of service start dates with the faculty recruitment cycles.

Paid Study Leave for Technical-Administrative Staff

A draft union agreement has been approved, outlining criteria for granting 150-hour paid study leave to the University’s technical-administrative staff. Key updates include an expanded eligibility base to include fixed-term staff, an updated list of eligible university and postgraduate degrees, revised application deadlines and procedures, and simplified ranking criteria in case applications exceed the annual quota.

BUILDINGS AND SPACES

Annual Work Plan and Three-Year Programme 2025-2027

The University has approved the annual work plan for 2025, including construction projects initially planned for 2024 but not initiated by December 31, along with the 2025-2027 three-year programme. The planning aligns with the 2022-2027 Strategic Plan, focusing on risk prevention, improved accessibility of buildings and spaces, energy efficiency, and real estate asset enhancement.

ASSETS AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

Agreement Between the University of Bologna and Modernissimo S.r.l.

The University has approved a two-year agreement granting Modernissimo S.r.l. use of the DAMSlab Auditorium for film screenings and cinematic initiatives, while the University will use the Cinema Lumière halls for in-person lectures, conferences, seminars, and morning screenings. This collaboration will enhance cultural promotion efforts, with particular attention to students.

PARTICIPATION IN EXTERNAL ENTITIES

University Membership in Crossref

Since 2006, the University of Bologna has offered an institutional service for the digital publication of peer-reviewed academic journals and monographic series (AlmaDL). By joining Crossref, a non-profit association established as a collaborative initiative among academic publishers to address the problem of identification and persistent link between digital research publications, it is possible to achieve greater visibility and accessibility of published scientific content, greater technological integration and metadata enrichment, citation tracking and collaboration, and the strengthening of Open Science.

All resolutions are available on Organi web and Intranet