Bocconi 2015: The Year Milan Steps Out into the World

AN OPENING CEREMONY WAS HELD THIS MORNING WITH CHRISTINE LAGARDE, FOR AN ACADEMIC YEAR DEDICATED TO THE UNIVERSITY'S AND THE CITY'S INTERNATIONAL PROJECTION, WITH NEW PROGRAMS IN ENGLISH, MOOCS FOR STUDENTS FROM ALL AROUND THE WORLD, INITIATIVES RELATED TO EXPO 2015 AND AN INTERNATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MADE UP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE STRATEGIC VISION AND THE ABILITY TO FORECAST FUTURE TRENDS

The recurring theme of the Opening Ceremony of the 2014-2015 Academic Year, held this morning at Bocconi, has been the increasing internationalization of the University, Milan and Italy. The guest of honor was the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, who held the Lectio Magistralis with the presence of Bocconi President Mario Monti, Vice President Luigi Guatri, Rector Andrea Sironi, and Chief Executive Officer Bruno Pavesi.
 
Appeal of the Campus
 
Bocconi students and faculty come from more than 80 different countries, with 45 non-Italian permanent faculty members. The most represented international students , said Rector Sironi “come from countries with excellent higher education systems, such as Germany, France and China.” Applications from international students have increased by 13% during last year (the increase in Italian students has been 11%, a countertrend over the decrease in enrollments in the national university system) and almost 15% of freshmen are come from outside Italy. The appeal of Bocconi campus for international students is expected to increase further, thanks to works –beginning in 2015 – in the former milk factory area. 35,000m2 have been allocated to host the new headquarters of SDA Bocconi School of Management, a sporting center that will also be open to local residents and 300 places in student dorms.
 
The International Advisory Council
 
The University’s internationalization strategy is supported by the International Advisory Council (IAC), an advisory body that, in the words of Bocconi President, Mario Monti, includes “prestigious figures from the world of business and academia, who have strategic vision and the ability to forecast future trends.” Established five years ago with the aim of supporting the University in confronting the challenges produced by globalization and new technologies, the IAC has contributed to making years that have been difficult for Italy fruitful for Bocconi in terms of international visibility and reputation. The IAC’s membership has been expanded to include individuals from ten different nationalities. Members include leading academics, world business leaders, managing directors and chairmen of Italian companies with large international exposure and Italian executives holding prestigious positions abroad, ensuring a balanced mix of expertise and industries represented. “Thanks to the IAC,” said Mario Monti, “Bocconi can exchange views with global business leaders about their expectations in terms of the evolution of human capital and the labor market. This enables us to anticipate trends and develop the appropriate programs with opportunities to study and work abroad. In addition, interaction with academics from like-minded universities also helps us to develop a better understanding of the international market for higher education.”
 
 International Collaboration
 
One year after graduation, 23% of graduates work abroad. However, said the Rector, “it’s not about fostering the phenomenon of brain drain, but rather considering international experience as an increasingly important step in the professional growth of young people.” Over the past year, employment statistics for graduates have also improved (over 94% of graduates are employed one year after graduation) as well as data on the number of internships offered (4,200, 28% of which, or 1,200, abroad). To add to the offer of 24 double degrees with international universities and a triple degree, over upcoming months there will also be a graduate program with the London School of Economics and Political Science in the area of European Politics and Government and a project with the French grande école ESSEC focused on Asia and based on the presence of two schools on that continent (Bocconi with its Mumbai campus and ESSEC with its campus in Singapore).
 
The commitment to valuing international experience has led Bocconi to have 230 partner universities all over the world. It is also the university that offers the largest number  of opportunities abroad to its students out of 60 of the most prestigious universities and business schools in the world belonging to PIM (Partnership in International Management). Over the next academic year it is estimated that 2,150 students will be able to complete a study abroad experience.
 
New Educational Offer
 
The next steps in the internationalization process, as disclosed during the Rector’s speech, will be an expansion of the MOOCs offered, the Massive Open Online Courses in English made available free of charge on internet platforms (the first two have received more than 50,000 enrollments from around the world) and the entrance of Bocconi in political science education, with an international undergraduate program (the Bachelor in International Politics and Government). The program will start in the 2015-2016 academic year.
 
EXPO 2015
 
The upcoming year will also be the year of EXPO 2015 (the Universal exposition dedicated to Food and Nutrition), an event that will represent a strong opportunity to strengthen the  international visibility of  the city of Milan and of Italy as a whole. The University will participate in the activities linked to the event organized in collaboration with other universities in Milan, with the label B4EXPO (Bocconi for Expo). Included in the program are initiatives that have been inaugurated in recent weeks, with the opening of applications for FoodSaving BEC – Bocconi EXPO 2015 Competition, one week of education and debate on food waste, which will bring 200 students from all over the world to Milan, from 24 June to 1 July 2015.


CLICK the links below to download the rest of the press kit
 
International Advisory Council, 19 Distinguished Figures in Support of Bocconi’s International Strategy
 
A Program in Political Science Will Be Launched at Bocconi in 2015. In English
 
Sironi: Why Italy Needs More Higher Education
 
Bocconi in Numbers

 

by Fabio Todesco