University Highlights: Key Resolutions – April 2025

NOTICES

2024 Report of the Single Guarantee Committee

The Single Guarantee Committee (CUG) for equal opportunities, employee wellbeing, and against workplace discrimination presented the positive actions undertaken in 2024 in collaboration with various Divisions of the University Administration. In line with the 2022–2025 Positive Action Plan, the CUG promoted seminars, surveys, and activities for awareness-raising, listening, and support, in response to staff needs. It also improved its web page to disseminate initiatives and events organised by the Committee or promoted by other University bodies and national institutions.

2024 Gender Equality Plan (GEP) Monitoring

The University presented the monitoring report for the 2025–2027 Gender Equality Plan (GEP), outlining the actions carried out in 2024. These include measures on work-life balance, organisational culture, combating stereotypes, gender balance in leadership positions, gender mainstreaming in research and teaching, and strengthening the University’s tools to tackle gender-based violence.

Completion of the 2020–2024 Research Quality Assessment (VQR)

The internal work on the 2020–2024 VQR was completed. The process involved taskforces supporting University structures with the national evaluation. It covered academic staff, PhD programmes, research outputs, knowledge valorisation, and competitive projects. In addition to updating Ministry databases on staff and departments, 8,185 research outputs were submitted, along with 684 PhD research outputs and 438 international or high-budget research projects (over €50,000). Thirty-four case studies were selected, with a focus on the UN 2030 Agenda goals.

Recognition of Working and Caregiving Students: First Results

Following two University calls, for academic year 2024–25, the University of Bologna granted the status of working student to 1,795 students. This status entitles students to a range of Measures to support the balance between study and work—some common across all degree programmes and others determined by individual programmes. The call for the recognition of student caregivers—developed jointly by ER.GO, the University of Bologna and other universities in Emilia-Romagna—identified 25 eligible individuals, 19 of whom study at our University. These students are also entitled to support measures, including financial aid.

APPOINTMENTS

AlmaVicoo Association and “Federico Zeri” Foundation

Professors Maria Letizia Guerra, Patrizia Battilani, and Nicola De Luigi are among the new members of the Board of Directors of the AlmaVicoo Association. The University’s representatives in the governing bodies of the Federico Zeri Foundation have also been renewed for the 2025–2027 term. Professor Emerita Anna Ottani was confirmed as Honorary President, and Professor Giuliana Benvenuti remains on the Board of Directors. Professor Andrea Bacchi has been reconfirmed as Scientific Director. Members of the Advisory Board include Barbara Abbondanza Maccaferri, Giovanna Forlanelli, Francesca Baldassari, Annamaria Ambrosini Massari, engineer Romano Volta, Stefano Possati, and Professor Francesco Citti. Alessandro Saccani and Professor Claudio Travaglini remain members of the Board of Auditors.

Renewal of the Board of Auditors

The new Board of Auditors,has been appointed for the 2025–2028 term. The Board oversees the University’s financial, accounting, and asset management activities.

TEACHING

Unified Text on Teaching Design and Planning

The University updated the Unified Text on Teaching Design and Planning, introducing a standard model for calculating the number of lecture hours that can be delivered online for conventional degree programmes. The document incorporates the current legal framework, including updated guidelines for remote learning in conventional programmes and proposals for blended-mode courses. Criteria for assigning and reducing contact teaching loads for professors and researchers were also revised.

New Double, Multiple, and Joint Degrees

New programmes and curricula will be launched in academic year 2026–2027. In addition, there will be redesigned programmes and new agreements for double, multiple, and joint degree awards, as well as applications for competitive programmes (Erasmus Mundus Joint Master, Erasmus Mundus Design Measure, and EIT-KIC). Ten new programmes will be activated: six in Bologna, and one each in Imola, Faenza, Ravenna, and Rimini.

Agreement with the National Museums of Ravenna

The University signed a five-year agreement with the National Museums of Ravenna to deliver the combined Bachelor's and Master's Degree in Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage.

Joint PhD Programmes

Agreements have been signed with the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and the University of Parma for the launch of the 41st cycle PhD programme in Automotive Engineering for Intelligent Mobility, and with the University of Turin for the 41st cycle PhD programme in Law, Science and Technology. Both programmes will award joint doctoral degrees.

First Round of Advanced and Continuing Education Courses 2025–2026

The University has approved the first round of Advanced (CAF) and Continuing Education Courses (CFP) for 2025–2026, starting between September and December 2025. A total of 17 courses will be offered, including two newly introduced courses.

RESEARCH AND THIRD MISSION

Renewal of the Collaboration Agreement with the JRC

The University has renewed its five-year collaboration agreement with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission. The JRC is the Commission’s in-house science service and provides independent scientific advice to support EU policymaking.

Framework Agreement among CRICC, DHMoRe, and CICCREI

A framework agreement has been approved between three university research centres in Emilia-Romagna: the CRICC (Departmental Research Centre for Cultural and Creative Industries at the University of Bologna), DHMoRe (Interdepartmental Centre for Research on Digital Humanities at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia), and CICCREI (Interdepartmental Centre for the Construction, Conservation, and Regeneration of Buildings and Infrastructure at the University of Parma).

New Agreements with BI-REX, FederUnacoma, and Alstom

The framework agreement between the University of Bologna and BI-REX, a Competence Centre established under the National Industry 4.0 Plan, has been renewed. A new agreement has been signed with FederUnacoma, the federation of agricultural and landscaping machinery manufacturers within Confindustria. A collaboration protocol has also been approved with Alstom, a global leader in rail and metro transport systems and traffic control technologies.

Guidelines for the Spin-off and Start-up Regulations

The guidelines accompanying the University’s new Regulation on Spin-offs and Start-ups have been updated. These guidelines also reflect changes made to other internal Regulations concerning conflicts of interest, external professional appointments, and research contracts.

STUDENT SERVICES

Student Contributions for Academic Year 2025–2026

The University of Bologna has approved the student contribution system for 2025–2026, in continuity with previous years. The system is highly inclusive, featuring a no-tax area for ISEE values up to €27,000 and favourable contribution calculations for low and middle-low ISEE brackets. For students who do not meet merit requirements, the new model applies the same algorithm used for students who meet merit requirements, with an additional flat fee of €700—resulting in lower fees for those with an ISEE up to €45,000.

Student Support Measures

The University has approved an extensive programme of support measures for academic year 2025–2026. These include scholarships for students facing hardship, grants to cover housing and medical expenses for non-resident students, tuition waivers for new parents and families with multiple enrolled students. Also confirmed are the 150-hour part-time collaboration grants, tutoring incentives, and enrolment incentives for nationally and EU-prioritised programmes in the STEAM disciplines.

Amendments to the University Student Regulations

 
With the latest amendments, students enrolled in part-time programmes who are affected by degree programme changes or deactivations may switch to the new curriculum while retaining part-time status, without taking entrance tests for programmes with limited enrolment or paying the internal transfer fee (stamp duty only). Students may also switch from part-time to full-time while remaining in their previous curriculum.

INTERNATIONALISATION

Renewal of Agreements with Non-EU Universities

Favourable opinions were expressed for the renewal of cooperation agreements with Dalian University of Foreign Languages (China), Universidade Estadual Paulista “Júlio de Mesquita Filho” (Brazil), and Kobe University (Japan). New agreements will also be signed with the University of California, Irvine (USA), and the Turin Polytechnic University in Tashkent (Uzbekistan), to enhance student and staff mobility and promote education and research projects in line with the University’s 2022–2027 Strategic Plan.

BUDGET, PLANNING, DEVELOPMENT

2024 University Financial Statements

The University has approved its 2024 financial statements, providing a comprehensive picture of the University’s financial health. The document includes the balance sheet (assets and liabilities), income statement (revenues and expenses), cash flow statement, and detailed explanatory notes. Despite challenges in the national and public university sectors, the University of Bologna ended 2024 with a surplus of over €16 million.

University Governance and Quality Assurance System Architecture

The University has approved the summary document drafted by the University Quality Assurance Office, following the review of the QA system and identification of areas for improvement at all levels (University, Department, degree programme, and PhD programme). The document aims to enhance clarity and consistency in processes, supporting understanding and engagement by all stakeholders.

STAFF AND ORGANIZATION

First 2025 Recruitment Round

The first 2025 recruitment round was approved, including changes requested by Departments for previous rounds, the allocation of positions (including those from the centrally retained quota), authorisation for the reallocation of recruitment budgeting units for three Departments, and the publication schedule for recruitment calls for first and second-level professors.

Employment Inclusion for People with Disabilities and Protected Categories

A proposed agreement was approved to be submitted to the Emilia-Romagna Regional Employment Agency, aimed at promoting employment inclusion for people with disabilities and others in protected categories. A hiring quota will be reserved in compliance with current legislation.

All resolutions are available on Organi web and Intranet