University Highlights: Key Resolutions – September 2025

NOTICES

Italy–Germany bilateral cooperation agreement

The recently signed scientific and technological cooperation agreement between Italy and Germany, promoted by their respective governments to strengthen academic ties and synergies between Italian and German universities, assigns an important role to the University of Bologna. In partnership with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts in Bonn, the University will contribute in the fields of meteorology, climatology, Earth observation, and numerical modelling and simulation. The cooperation also aims to train graduates and PhD candidates with advanced skills both in interdisciplinary approaches to the atmosphere and climate system, and in related applications and services.

University library spaces: additional needs and requirements of the Emilia-Romagna Superintendence

To address the need for additional shelving and to comply with the latest requirements of the Emilia-Romagna Archival and Bibliographic Superintendence, part of the University’s bibliographic material will be relocated to one or more remote storage facilities. A dedicated working group will draft an initial feasibility study to identify and prepare new storage spaces.

APPOINTMENTS

Elections and appointments of student representatives following the installation of the new Student Council

After the installation of the new Student Council (16 September), elections were held – in addition to the appointment of the President and Vice-President – for student representatives in the Academic Senate, the Board of Governors, the University Sports Committee, the Regional Student Council, the Evaluation Group, the Teaching Committee, the University Quality Assurance Committee, the Student Disciplinary Committee, the Scientific Advisory Board of the University Library System, the Board of the University Library of Bologna (BUB) and the Historical Archives, and the Una Europa Student Board. Members were also appointed to the Standing Committees of the Academic Senate and the Board of Governors.

TEACHING

Amendments to the University Teaching Regulations

The University Teaching Regulations have been amended in compliance with Ministerial Decree 1835/2024, which permits remote exams and final assessments only for students serving prison sentences or with serious illnesses, with any other exceptions requiring specific ministerial authorisation. The revised regulations, now submitted to the Ministry for approval, extend the option of remote exams and assessments to students abroad in areas affected by political-military crises, in cases of environmental emergencies, and to student-athletes engaged in official competitions.

Admissions Regulations for Degree Programmes

The Governing Bodies approved proposals for new University-wide Admissions Regulations for Degree Programmes, covering both locally restricted and open-access programmes. The new regulations establish general principles and detailed rules for admissions procedures, standardise timelines and modalities for the publication of calls, and clarify the roles of Departments and examining committees.

Teaching Regulations of the Collegio Superiore

The amended Teaching Regulations of the Collegio Superiore have been approved, introducing the possibility of laboratories for first- and second-cycle students. The Governing Bodies also approved the Collegio Superiore’s teaching plan for the 2025-2026 academic year.

Postgraduate internship regulations for the medical licensing examination

The regulations for the postgraduate internship required for the State Examination to qualify as a medical doctor have been amended in line with new legislation. Key changes include: restricting access to the internship to graduates in Medicine and Surgery of the University of Bologna; reducing and redefining the evaluation committee; simplifying administrative procedures; replacing the official call with an online notice; and structuring the internship into three one-month periods of 100 hours each, in medical, surgical, and general practice areas.

Student Opinion Surveys 2025-26

The organisational arrangements and questionnaires for the 2025-2026 Student Opinion Surveys have been approved, covering both attending and non-attending students. Following the reactivation of the survey for non-attending students, completion has been mandatory since December 2024 for exam registration. The existing structure of the questionnaires, and their administration both in classrooms and via AlmaEsami under conditions of anonymity, will remain unchanged from 2024-2025.

Agreement with Almacube

A new agreement will be signed with Almacube S.r.l. to strengthen awareness of entrepreneurship and enterprise culture (open innovation, youth and academic entrepreneurship, innovative business models, design thinking, and university–business collaboration). The partnership will involve training activities and teaching modules offered during degree programmes and postgraduate education, complementary teaching activities, and other initiatives aimed at training and supporting students.

RESEARCH AND THIRD MISSION

New regulations for performance-based incentives for academic and professional staff

The document responds to the evolving landscape of competitive funding, the need to streamline procedures, and the importance of bringing regulatory provisions into line with the latest union agreements in support of professional staff. Key changes include: academic staff will receive payments after a positive evaluation of their activities; the requirement to declare interest in the incentive within six months of funding allocation has been removed; criteria for distributing incentives to professional staff will be defined in specific agreements; fixed-term lecturers and researchers may also receive additional compensation for specific assignments.

Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Bologna, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Wellness Foundation

The Protocol has been renewed, with the aim of promoting healthy lifestyles within the local community. The partnership will involve teaching, research, and communication activities on the impact of sport and physical activity on physical and mental well-being.

Framework agreement with CNH Industrial Italia

The University of Bologna and CNH Industrial Italia will sign a framework agreement to foster collaboration in research and innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, teaching and lifelong learning, career guidance, internationalisation, development cooperation, sustainability, and social innovation.

Framework Agreement with the Bologna Naturalists’ Association

This three-year agreement will regulate joint initiatives between the University and the Association to promote scientific culture, sustainability, and the protection of nature and the environment.

Fundraising campaigns

The Governing Bodies approved the guidelines for managing departmental and University-wide fundraising campaigns. These may also be applied to projects already launched experimentally and not yet published on the Unimpatto platform, as well as to republished projects. Each Department – through its Council, an existing committee, or an ad hoc committee – will evaluate project proposals for fundraising. Approved projects may then be published on Unimpatto, subject to the approval of the University Online Donations Committee.

The University of Bologna and the Bologna Marathon

The Governing Bodies approved a partnership with Bologna Sport Marathon for the promotion and organisation of the “Bologna Marathon” (1 March 2026), themed “Bologna the Learned” in tribute to the city’s cultural value and the central role of the University. The partnership will focus in particular on joint communication activities, the promotion of the “City Run” charity race in support of university research, shared management of fundraising initiatives, involvement of the university community, and enhancing the University’s cultural role.

New Framework Agreement with the National Interuniversity Consortium for Materials Science and Technology (INSTM)

The new seven-year agreement will regulate the management of joint research programmes and projects, promote access for academic, research, and professional staff to the INSTM network of national and international laboratories, and foster the development of teaching activities to train highly skilled professionals.

INTERNATIONALISATION

Agreements with non-European universities and Fundación Alma Mater

The Governing Bodies approved the renewal of framework agreements with Kobe University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev, Tecnológico de Monterrey, and the University of the Republic of San Marino. They also approved the Annual Report on the funding provided to Fundación Alma Mater.

STUDENT SERVICES

Scholarships for students from conflict zones and countries with discriminatory policies

A call will be issued for the allocation of 13 scholarships, each worth €9,000, for students enrolled in first-cycle, single-cycle, or second-cycle degree programmes at the University in the 2025-2026 academic year, coming from areas affected by conflicts or discriminatory policies that severely hinder access to higher education. This initiative builds on earlier measures supporting students from Gaza.

Support measures for student associations carrying out cultural, sports and recreational activities

A proposal has been approved to issue a call for grants to support student associations and cooperatives, either registered with the University or in the process of being recognized, to fund cultural, sporting, and recreational activities in 2026. A total of €215,000 has been allocated, with an additional €35,000 available for reimbursement of association venue rental costs.

Inclusion in the workplace for students with disabilities

The University signed an agreement with the Emilia-Romagna Regional Employment Agency o provide personalised support to students with disabilities, both current and recent graduates. The aim is to help them plan their future, whether pursuing further education or entering the job market, by increasing awareness of labour market opportunities and the services offered by the Agency.

PNRR Guidance Courses for School-to-University Transition

Guidance courses for students in the last three years of secondary school will continue to be offered in the 2025-26 school year. More than 180 trainers will be involved, with additional faculty, researchers, and professional staff recruited if needed, to design discipline-focused orientation pathways.

University alias: library services and updated confidentiality agreements

The university alias career service has been extended to the entire Bologna Library System, including libraries outside the University. Confidentiality agreements regulating university aliases for students and staff have been updated to reflect the new functionalities of the Sebina NEXT platform, which now allows the use of a chosen name in the records of the Bologna Library System.

BUDGET, PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT

Guidelines for the 2026–2028 University Budget and Departmental Allocations

The guidelines for drafting the 2026 University Budget Forcast and the 2026-2028 Three-Year Budget have been finalized. Allocations to Departments for 2026 have been defined: budgets will remain unchanged compared to the previous year. Departments may reallocate up to 40% of funds assigned for teaching and research, provided that student service requirements are met and teaching expenditure ceilings are respected.

STAFF AND ORGANIZATION

Regulations for postdoctoral and research assignments

The Governing Bodies approved two sets of regulations governing postdoctoral and research assignments, under Articles 22-bis and 22-ter of Law 240/2010. Postdoctoral assignments will take the form of fixed-term employment contracts involving research, teaching, and third mission activities. Research assignments will be reserved for early-career scholars with suitable curricula, aimed at introducing them to research and innovation under the supervision of a tutor.

Training courses for sustainable laboratories: agreement with Clust-ER Health

An agreement was signed with Clust-ER Health to offer training courses for laboratory staff at the University of Bologna. The aim is to promote sustainable practices, reduce waste, and ensure the responsible management of resources.

OTHER BUSINESS

The Academic Senate approved a motion on relations with Israeli universities, companies, and institutions

The document concerns agreements and relations with Israeli universities, companies and institutions, whether already in place or newly established, and commits the University to act vigorously in every forum for peace and human rights.

All resolutions are available on Organi web and Intranet