BOLZANO. Alex Weissensteiner has a worry: «The cost of rent in Bolzano is taking away large numbers of people intending to register with us». Hence the cost of living. And the new rector adds: «Other cities have our problems with student halls which are never enough: none of the small or medium-sized ones have these prices». But there is much hope: “We have activated a platform of subsidized support with the banks for students in difficulty.”
Therefore the economic context that keeps pace with the development prospects of the athebean: «Some time ago our third party funds (i.e. non-public ones ed.) reached just over a million. Now we are at 16 million.” Considerations: starting from the overall budget of 90, the extra-Province supports increase in percentage. It means a Unibz no longer a cathedral in the desert but inserted in a territory that responds. Alex Weissensteiner took over his rector’s office a few days ago. He greeted his predecessor, Paolo Lugliand now he programs with his ideas.
The student halls? Paolo Lugli had been protesting their shortage for years.
“I have an idea that the climate has changed.”
Meaning what?
“The Province and the Municipality have started the procedures. The municipal tender has found candidates. I know of the former Fiat which has regained share. Other private individuals have moved.”
How many places do you think will be available in a couple of years?
“I count about 770.”
The Lub requirement now?
“Let’s say 800. We’re close to it. I’d say the emergencies are easing.”
But Unibz doesn’t just look at student residences, right?
“That’s how it is. We have discussions with the Municipality. Another issue is mobility. It could be improved. But urban planners and politicians have to think about this. I would say that the problem remains the same as always.”
That is to say?
“The high cost of living”.
How does it pour onto the Lub?
“Between a few student residences and rents that have costs that are not comparable to other medium-sized cities, I would say that the combination of these two elements is causing us to turn away a good share of student candidates”.
That is, who would want to study here but?
“Exactly. For this reason, in addition to the provincial support that already exists, we are activating a platform for discussion with local banking institutions to ensure that students obtain subsidized loans specific to their path.”
Within what logic, from the point of view of a university?
“That access to third level courses and academic studies must be seen as a specific political and social task.”
For years we have been negotiating with the Conservatory to make it a music faculty. What’s missing?
“I have an idea that we will have to reposition the negotiation.”
What does it mean?
“That the parameters on which we had discussed so far have changed. There is a ministerial scheme that outlines the new contours of Afam, i.e. Higher artistic and musical education. This provides for the insertion of conservatories into academic frameworks, i.e. their transformation into institutions university”.
What could this new scenario entail?
“It will be a question of understanding whether Monteverdi intends to continue the path undertaken with us to become a new faculty with us or join the ministerial scheme that involves other conservatories in the country”.
What do you prefer?
“Let Monteverdi decide.”
Other new faculties coming soon?
“Calm down. We just opened Engineering.”
So?
“I would like to make it clear that with this beautiful building we have only begun a journey, certainly not finished.”
Will there be new masters?
“Already now two in Engineering. But in 2025 the establishment of a master’s degree in health and sport is planned”.
What will this entail?
“A complex iteration between specializations, such as automation or electronics. Society is aging: we will create new aids for the mobility of people, for example.”
How are registrations going?
“We are aiming for five thousand. But we need to pay attention to the different levels of attractiveness of the individual faculties. In Design, for example, there are three times more applications than places available. In Engineering, however, we will have to work to make it increasingly the courses are attractive”.
Difficile?
“Fascinating. We always take into account that our “brand” is not 100 years old. We are a very young university.”
How is the relationship with companies going?
“After the first years since our foundation in which we were “sniffed”, as they say, today it is the companies that continue to communicate with us while waiting to have new graduates available. And more and more often they ask for information before graduation”.
Does the economy help you?
“Just one fact. A few years ago third-party funds, i.e. private ones, barely reached one million, today we are at 16 million. It means that the world of production and companies knows what it can ask of us and what we can give it. In terms of quality of training and infrastructure for research and innovation”.
It is said that Unibz students do not “feel” in the city. In other universities, however, they make themselves heard: they demonstrate, they intervene…
“It’s not true. For example, they play sports: their sports organization has obtained two fields on the Talvera. But this relationship works well. It must be taken into account that only 40% of the students come from Alto Adige”.
And the others?
“A good 20% of those who come from outside come from Trento, another similar percentage from Germany and Austria. The rest from other Italian regions”.
But the fact remains that they are rarely seen outside the Lub.
“Be careful, those who arrive here are very motivated. Those who expect an easy degree don’t think of enrolling in Bolzano. There are languages to learn, at least one very well compared to their own. I can imagine that there is a strong interest in doing well and engage in studies”.
The two new master’s degrees in Engineering, precisely because they are aimed at companies, have very flexible lessons and timetables, some online. And the rest of the faculties?
“Just the same. This is a strategic objective of mine.”
Would be?
“Look carefully at students who work, set up study cycles that are open to technological innovation and increasingly flexible. Where a large number of online or even recorded lessons take place. With a precise focus on continuous education”.
Aimed at other targets?
“I’m talking about information pills. Creating a platform aimed at different age groups. Coping with the constant aging of societies by preparing cultural and educational infrastructures capable of responding to very fragmented requests for academic education. For this reason we are in close contact with many working fields: healthcare, banks, many professional associations…”.
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2024-10-07 15:00:53