Milan-Bicocca: a welfare scheme for pregnant students, parents or carers

Reserved parking spaces in the university car parks. Dedicated areas, one in each part of the campus, for breastfeeding and caring for young children, equipped with an armchair, a washbasin and a changing table. Priority access to university cafés and canteens, administrative offices and the student advisory services network. Academic support, special exam sessions for students with high-risk pregnancies and ad hoc financial grants. These are some of the measures contained in the University of Milan-Bicocca’s ‘Guidelines for balancing study, parenthood and caregiving’, presented today by Rector Marco Emilio Orlandi, Director General Cristiano Nicoletti, Vice-Rector for Equal Opportunities and Diversity, Sveva Magaraggia, and the Vice-Rector for Relations with the Health System and Health, Giuseppe Carrà.

A support plan for parenting (0–6 years), maternity and paternity leave, and care for family members, aimed at the entire student population at Milano-Bicocca. A framework of strategic actions and measures that the University is already implementing or will implement in the coming academic years to support students in their family and academic lives. ‘The University recognises that pregnancy, breastfeeding and the exercise of parental responsibility, including adoption and foster care, can affect students’ academic progress and intends to promote conditions that allow for full participation in university life, preventing situations of disadvantage or discrimination,’ reads the Introduction to the Guidelines. Support measures and flexibility are also provided for student carers, “who need to balance their studies with significant daily care responsibilities”.

“With the adoption of these guidelines for carers,” says the university’s rector, Marco Emilio Orlandi, “the University of Milano-Bicocca is reinforcing its commitment to safeguarding the right to education. This initiative complements the recent extension of the ‘no tax area’ and initiatives regarding student accommodation and wellbeing. This is precisely the duty of a public university: to work towards removing the financial, logistical or personal barriers that may hinder a student’s university journey.”

“Equipping ourselves with these tools,” says Sveva Magaraggia, Vice-Rector for Equal Opportunities and Diversity, “means telling our community that care has a place in the public sphere, and that students should not have to leave part of their lives outside our university in order to be recognised as legitimate students.”

“The University of Milan-Bicocca is committed to promoting the health and wellbeing of its students, particularly during the most critical periods of their lives,” adds the Vice-Rector for Relations with the Health System and Health, Giuseppe Carrà – so that specific circumstances do not act as an obstacle to the educational aspirations of those who remain motivated and committed to their studies.”
The measures envisaged include:
Academic concessions such as the acceptance of absences due to antenatal appointments or medical appointments for children and family members, and for foster care or adoption procedures, as well as the establishment of alternative methods for delivering teaching hours;
office hours at times other than the standard ones or even remotely;
priority and micro-flexibility in exams and degree sessions;
dedicated financial support, such as the temporary suspension of academic studies without the obligation to pay the fixed registration fee. A working group will be set up to reduce student fees for parents and carers (from the 2027–2028 academic year);
“UniCare Pathway” to ensure priority access to university cafés and canteens, the Student Office and career guidance support services, as well as dedicated parking spaces on campus for pregnant students;
dedicated spaces such as the One-Stop Shop for Parenting and Family Caregiving at the B.Inclusion centre for managing forms and self-certifications, and for assistance with fees, scholarships, deferrals and services; the Breastfeeding and Cuddle Room, with an armchair, washbasin and changing table for pregnant students and parents; Quiet Space: a space for brief moments of relaxation (in various buildings across the campus);
psychological and career guidance support, with priority access to the Milan-Bicocca Guidance Services, and parenting support consultations;
information events for student parents on local services and mutual support groups;
services for children such as “Vengo anch’io” (care for children aged 0 to 6 with a flexible hourly arrangement, designed to cover temporary needs or emergencies); Bicocca Nursery and Bicocca Kindergarten, plus a summer camp in July; reduced rates for summer camps;
antenatal counselling at the Health Centre for pregnant students