Edunext: how Italian universities are reinventing higher education

You have a job, a family, a life. And probably an unfulfilled ambition too: that university course you never started, or that you gave up halfway through because the system didn’t make room for your circumstances.
EDUNEXT was created for you too.
Think of those who have been working for years in a sector they love, but feel that without a master’s degree, the glass ceiling is right there – low and visible. Think of those who stopped halfway through their studies, not for lack of desire, but because life took a different turn, and now they’d like to pick up where they left off. Think of those living in Bari, Bolzano, Sassari, or anywhere else in Italia – and beyond – who have always thought that certain universities and certain specialisations were simply out of reach. EDUNEXT changes that equation. Thirty-five Italian universities have chosen, for the first time, to truly work together as a system, and have decided to offer some of their degree programmes in a different way – one that is more accessible, more flexible and more closely aligned with people’s real lives.
Accessible does not mean easy. It means designed for those who already have a life. Each course is the result of collaboration between university lecturers, instructional designers and media content producers: roles that were largely unknown in Italian universities and which EDUNEXT has successfully introduced into the academic world, drawing inspiration from the world’s most advanced educational systems. The online activities are structured and progressive; they are not simply materials left on a platform. The face-to-face sessions are intensive and concentrated – weekends and short weeks – designed for those who cannot take months off. At the heart of it all is always the subject tutor: not a generic assistant, but a subject expert who supports you, guides you and knows you by name. Studying with EDUNEXT does not mean studying alone: it means having a method, a community and someone who is there for you when you need them. The teaching model is called ECOBI – Educational Clusters with Open Badges and Blended Intensive Programme – and the figures show that it works.

35 degree programmes already running by 2025, over 30 master’s programmes, 7 advanced training courses, and over 2,500 students enrolled in the 2025/2026 academic year, with PNRR targets exceeded within 15–18 months of launch. But more than the figures, what matters is what they represent: proof that thirty-five universities have found something more valuable than competition – a shared project. Underpinning all this is a constantly expanding digital ecosystem: LEARN for undergraduate programmes, PRO for postgraduate education, OPEN for MOOCs, and ONAIR for educational podcasts generated by artificial intelligence and validated by lecturers.
In June, EDUNEXT is bringing all this to the fore with two events. From 17 to 19 June, the first EDUNEXT International Conference will be held in Palermo: three days during which researchers, lecturers and institutions from all over the world will discuss the future of digital education. A clear sign that what is happening in Italia is of interest far beyond the country’s borders.

 E-Days — Your starting point
Want to find out if it’s right for you? E-Days are the perfect place to start. On 24 and 25 June for master’s degrees, and on 30 June for bachelor’s degrees: three days held entirely online that offer a glimpse into the future of university education. On the website, you can already explore the calendar of events, find the courses that interest you and choose to attend only the sessions that suit you. It’s not a three-day commitment: it’s a programme you can tailor to your own interests. From the comfort of your own home, you can meet lecturers from Milan, Bologna, Naples… explore a catalogue covering the whole of Italia and find your path even before you enrol. It’s not just a preview: it’s already your first EDUNEXT experience

Register now: E-DAY - EDUNEXT – Italian Universities Digital Education Hub

EDUNEXT is a project funded by the Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MUR) with PNRR funds under Mission 4, Component 1, Investment 3.4