Anna Gervasoni, Rector Liuc 'International university with a focus on young people'

A football team, 10 delegates in all, plus her, Anna Gervasoni, Rector of Liuc since 1 November, full professor in Economics and Business Management as well as Director General of Aifi, to lead the way. A team that "aims to win the championship in which it plays", the one in which universities compete to create the entrepreneurial and managerial class of tomorrow. To do so, Gervasoni, as outlined in this interview with Il Sole 24 Ore, has put down on paper a programme - the mandate lasts until October 2027 - that uses as its starting point 'the great values that inspired' the birth of Liuc. A university that is unique, also thanks to the fact that it is founded on four key pillars, namely 'school of economics and engineering, business school, PHD'. A set-up that will not only be confirmed but also further implemented because one of the objectives is to increase the synergies between the various branches with the aim of giving more and more 'value to the educational processes'. In the full knowledge that there are numerous challenges "awaiting the academic world" starting with a labour market that requires a highly flexible educational system because it is "perpetually on the move".

On the basis of all this and with the precise objective of 'strengthening the faculty', Gervasoni's programme will follow some clear lines: internationalisation, teaching, research, innovation and a focus on young people. In this area, looking abroad is certainly one of the central steps. "Liuc has already started the process to obtain two prestigious international accreditations, AACSB and EFMD, which will join the EUR-ACE accreditation, already obtained by the engineering school. We aim to win the 'three crowns', a recognition reserved for the world's most prestigious universities,' explained the rector. But that's not all, all this also intersects with another key issue, which is that of teaching, and in this perspective 'international exchange opportunities, internships and double degrees will increase, and new university master's degrees will be launched that will allow direct access to the second year of master's degrees in economics and engineering'.

This, however, with the concept of transversal skills in mind: artificial intelligence, sustainability and critical thinking 'will not be courses but will become part of courses'. Not to mention, on the innovation front, the new opportunities for collaboration between the university and companies that will open up thanks to Confindustria Varese's Mill (Manufacturing. Innovation, Learning, Logistics) project. Technology transfer and collaboration activities with companies on the most topical issues, starting with applications of artificial intelligence, will also be launched. And again with a view to dialogue with companies, the Liuc Lab, a place to unite institutional research centres, will be leveraged. An attentive eye will also be turned 'to the world of finance for start-ups, to help companies find the right way to support' innovative ideas.

In this context, a Liuc study office, which will be headed by Chiara Gigliarano, will be set up for transversal projects and a case book series will be launched. The intention here will be to promote synergies and contamination between economics and engineering in order to promote multidisciplinary research. It is also due to the fact that, as mentioned, this programme has a "specific focus on young people who are at the heart of the University's development project". And towards whom a series of precautions have already been identified. The first, which is not trivial, will concern the policy for internships and apprenticeships that must be paid. A dean's list will then be created, geared towards promoting talented students, and a think tank on youth will be launched. Within this framework, a plan is already ready to help young mothers, whether students or researchers, to ensure that they 'grow up' 'in an environment that does not penalise them'.

In order for all these pieces to compose a perfect mosaic, as mentioned, a team of 10 delegates was assembled: Chiara Mauri, international accreditations; Paolo Crespi, processes and ranking; Nicola Rondinone, governance and regulatory simplification; Valentina Lazzarotti, faculty development and reporting institutional centres; Aurelio Ravarini, didactic innovation and interdisciplinarity; Salvatore Sciascia, research; Raffaella Manzini, technology transfer; Gloria Puliga, innovation; Alessandra Cillo, orientation and relations with schools; Eliana Minelli next generation and inclusion. Internationalisation and alumni remained under the rector.