By Decision No. 594 of 26 April 2024 (implementing Ministerial Decree No. 291 of 2 February 2024), the Ministry for Universities and Research published a call to strengthen the role of Higher schools through the establishment of at least three networks by:
- offering courses and training activities to PhD students in higher education institutions in order for them to share their experiences and competences across the system;
- consolidating the role of Higher schools in the school-to-university transition, through specific guidance activities also for students in upper secondary schools.
The sub-investment is to be implemented by activating at least three Networks of Higher Schools, with the aim of promoting the sharing of resources, competences and experience and creating synergies that can be useful for supporting a quality education model in strategic fields such as economics, engineering, science and technology, in line with the objectives of Mission 4 “Istruzione e ricerca” [“Education and Research”], Component 1 “Potenziamento dell’offerta dei servizi all’istruzione: dagli asili nido all’Università” [Strengthening the provision of education services: from nurseries to universities], Investment 3.4 “Didattica e competenze universitarie avanzate” [Advanced University Teaching and Competences] of the NRRP.
The sub-investment was funded with a total budget of €40,000,000, allocated in line with the lines of activity set out in Ministerial Decree 291/2024.
The University of Bologna’s project
The University submitted a project - approved for funding - through the network “MERITA – la rete per il talento” [MERITA – the network for talent], in which the Collegio Superiore collaborates with four other schools — two special-statute schools and two higher university schools: Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Scuola Galileiana di Studi Superiori – University of Padua, Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati – La Sapienza University of Rome, and Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa, the latter acting as lead partner.
Merita, la rete per il talento [Merita - the network for talent]
- Scientific coordinator for Unibo: Collegio Superiore of the University of Bologna.
- Participating universities and higher schools: Collegio Superiore, University of Bologna; Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa; Scuola Galileiana di Studi Superiori – University of Padua; Scuola Superiore di Studi Avanzati – La Sapienza University of Rome; Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa.
- Lead partner: Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
- Funding: €12,000,000.78
- Duration: 24 months
Abstract
The project “MERITA – la rete per il talento” [MERITA – the Network for Talent] is built around five strategic objectives to promote social inclusion and foster talent through the following main activities:
- Guidance and social mobility: MERITA aims to increase the number of high-achieving students from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds and from Italy’s inner areas who enter university. The guidance activities will also focus on STEM subjects, with a special focus on female students, promoting greater equality in access to higher education.
- Seasonal Schools (undergraduate and PhD): During the course of the project, residential Seasonal Schools will be organised for undergraduate and second-level (master’s) students, as well as PhD students. These short courses will adopt an interdisciplinary and innovative approach to frontier research topics, including collaborations with international universities, offering participants opportunities for academic and personal growth.
- Internationalisation and mobility: MERITA will promote international mobility for students and researchers through collaborations with the Fulbright Program and exchange agreements with foreign universities, ensuring a global learning experience. Opportunities are planned for both outbound and inbound exchanges and traineeships, with dedicated programmes for incoming mobility.
- Digital ecosystem: the project envisages the creation of a digital ecosystem, a platform that will enable resource-sharing among the schools in the MERITA network. A special focus will be placed on delivering online courses (MOOCs) on specific topics and transferable skills, which will be accessible to a large number of students.
- Infrastructure: the project includes significant investment to upgrade teaching and residential infrastructure at the network’s schools, including the purchase and equipping of technologically advanced classrooms, study spaces and residential facilities to host everyone involved in the learning activities.