Corporate social responsibility

Cooperation between businesses and the University can be enhanced through initiatives for the community and society as a whole.

Cooperation between businesses and the University can be enhanced through the integration of all the economic, social and cultural realities, running initiatives for the community and society as a whole, not only locally but globally. More and more businesses are showing their sensitivity, interest and desire to invest in corporate social responsibility initiatives, which are part of the institutional mission and founding values of the University, and in some cases these become an integral part of the business strategy.

Companies interested in cooperating with the university in this field have access to the University’s competences and experience to run their own Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) projects; many University researchers are already actively contributing to CSR projects for large businesses, mainly in the medical, health, sustainability and development cooperation fields.

In many cases, these projects capitalise on the research experience, but the opposite can also be said, where corporate social responsibility projects further research, once more fuelling that virtuous circle of knowledge and civil society.

Businesses working on the same corporate social responsibility initiative topics as the university and wishing to support them can contribute to their implementation, making available their own experience, providing materials and instruments or funding.

The University of Bologna has aligned the objectives of its own Strategic Plan with the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, defining the AlmaGoals. The initiatives aiming to achieve these goals come in many forms: sustainability projects in environmental, energy and transport fields, social innovation and development cooperation projects, activities to enhance the artistic and cultural heritage, educational and sports initiatives. All these projects demand a very high level of multidisciplinary integration, and the many competences and disciplines the University of Bologna can express are an indispensable added value for their success.

Corporate social responsibility initiatives

Many of the University’s corporate social responsibility initiatives are run in cooperation with local, national and international businesses; some examples are given below.

Sustainable Multicampus: the University of Bologna for sustainability

In 2020 the University was ranked sixth in the world (and first in Europe) in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings table, which assesses the impact of universities on the social fabric and their commitment to sustainable development.

This ambitious achievement is the result of the many partnerships run by the University of Bologna with regional, national and multinational businesses and other local stakeholders. Strategic partners can participate directly with their specific competences in research and innovation, the staff involved, and with direct resources and financial support. Every year, this leads to many prestigious initiatives in various fields.

Further information on the sustainable Multicampus

Environmental sustainability initiatives

This is a central issue for the University of Bologna, with its many campuses over a large area and a significant academic and student community, but is equally urgent for all local stakeholders cooperating daily with the University in different fields. The direct and indirect support of businesses, local bodies and organisations aims to enhance and provide further knowledge, awareness and efficient, innovative solutions in this strategic area.

Projects: Plastop (the project aiming to eliminate plastic in various university areas, through the contribution of local businesses and innovative solutions); Nastro Verde (a sustainable cinema series); Greenathon (hackathon selecting sustainable innovation ideas in the food and agri-food sector, in cooperation with external partners through sponsorships and co-design).

Further information on environmental sustainability projects

Sustainable mobility initiatives

Many proposals aim to meet the need for less environmental impacts, increasing the urban mobility options, in which businesses and local bodies make available know-how and services already available on the market, as well as the co-design and implementation of new innovative solutions, which can be tested and made available to the large university community, with its multicampus structure.

Projects: Almabike (a customised model at the disposal of students and employees), Zeta A (an electric car sharing fleet), WEB-ike (network of e-bike stations), MiMuovoLibero (discounted rates for urban and metropolitan mobility for members of the university community).

Further information on sustainable mobility projects

Energy sustainability initiatives

With the support and technical competences of businesses and leading concerns in the sector, also through public-private partnerships, many activities aim to monitor and assess efficiency and consumption, as well as develop new energy resource management models and solutions. The variety of actors in the area, working alongside the University of Bologna, assures a significant level of multidisciplinarity and capacity for integration.

Projects: Small Footprint (a project aiming to calculate the University of Bologna’s environmental footprint and to subsequently plan the activities necessary for reducing said footprint); G.E.CO. (Gestione Energia e COntrollo remoto - Energy Management and Remote Control); Tetti Verdi (hanging gardens on the roofs of university buildings); NZEB (conversion of some pilot buildings to reduce the energy balance to (almost) zero, integrating renewable sources), etc.

Further information on energy sustainability projects

AlmaEngage: the University of Bologna for development cooperation and social engagement

The University has been working for some time both locally and in other geographical areas around the world, developing alliances and cooperating with local or foreign businesses and actors to promote development cooperation and social engagement.

At the initiative of the University or with the input of partners, a great variety of issues are tackled aiming to offer solutions in all areas of cooperation: health, breeding and farming, biodiversity, climate change, migration, education, human rights, entrepreneurship, tourism, urban planning, archaeology, etc. The projects and their results target mainly the local communities and ecosystems, but are also an instrument for implementing Corporate Social Responsibility strategies and enhancing ethical principles, even beyond the specific business sector.

Further information on AlmaEngage

Sport

Motorsports: it is the University of Bologna’s Racing Team, founded in 2009 with the passion of the student association CTM - Club Tecnico e Motori. The direct presence and participation of industrial partners with consolidated technical competences in the automotive sector (one of the region’s excellences), has led to exceptional racing results, through the integration of academia and industry in design, manufacture, development and competition with high-performing racing cars and bikes.

Ondasolare: it is a strategic project aiming to demonstrate how the sun can represent a valid alternative to conventional fuels. Many local industries actively participate in both the design and construction of innovative, high-efficiency solar vehicles.

Every year, the CUSB (Bologna University Sports Centre), which has been open since 1946, runs sporting initiatives in close synergy with, and with the participation of, businesses that directly contribute with materials and prizes, staff and support in terms of funding, visibility and dissemination. The result is the numerous events and competitions organised every year, combining support for a good cause with the promotion of sporting values and raising awareness of the importance of motor activities.

Art and Culture

As the oldest University in the western world, a testimonial to and stakeholder in the artistic, cultural and scientific ferment over the centuries, the University of Bologna’s museum heritage and a historical library (Bologna University Library)are the result of all the ideas, instruments, visions and discoveries of the teachers, students and researchers left as a legacy and heritage for all. The University Museum Network is closely oriented to cooperation with other institutions and private companies, aiming to improve access and visibility for its immense heritage through dissemination and teaching activities, as well as conservation, restoration and cataloguing and other initiatives and temporary exhibitions.

One recent example is the recovery of the historical Botanical Gardens, a project combining culture, biodiversity, dialogue with the local area, with the involvement of many businesses directly supporting the initiative for the whole of the city of Bologna and beyond.

Contacts

ARIN - Settore Rapporti con le Imprese

Address

Via Marsala 49 Bologna (BO)