What a BIG day!

THE FIRST 27 STUDENTS HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE BACHELOR IN INTERNATIONAL POLITICS AND GOVERNMENT (BIG), THE POLITICAL SCIENCE PROGRAM LAUNCHED IN 2015 BY BOCCONI. THEY ARRIVED WITH THE DREAM OF MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE, AND THEY ARE NOW READY TO FACE THEIR NEXT CHALLENGES, SAYS VINCENZO GALASSO

"Being the first class of graduates of the Bachelor in International Politics and Government (BIG) is incredibly satisfying,” says Ottavia Brussino, one of the 27 very first graduates of the three-year Bachelor in Political Science program inaugurated in 2015, who used the words "beautiful international family" to describe the BIG. “During these three years they have learned how to analyze data, how to motivate, design, implement and then evaluate public policies, they are able to work in team and to value diversity, to present their ideas and to reach agreements,” says Vincenzo Galasso, Program Director.
 
The program, entirely in English, which sees all students spend an exchange semester abroad, aims to train future national and international policy-makers, although "the multidisciplinary preparation and excellent quantitative basis offered open several doors," says Isabella Rustignoli, a recent graduate. Isabella (who for now only knows that she intends to pursue her studies) and her classmates have different ambitions: Ottavia Brussino would like to work in an international organization, Gioia Chiara Uva aims to enter the international courts, Francesco Ferraresi dreams of a career in international cooperation and developement, Victoria Priori will work hard to enter the UN one day, as a civil servant or a diplomat. And all the others are also ready to pursue their dreams.

When you ask them what they have learned during these three years, everyone has their own answer: critical thinking, an open mind, being more realistic and ready to accept different points of view. "But the most important thing we learned over the past three years is that the aim of higher education is not to fight to be better than others," says Ilaria Morawtz, “but to provide others with resources and create an environment where everyone can do their best, thanks to reciprocal support and assistance.”

"Three years ago, a group of fine young people joined Bocconi’s brand-new political science program. I remember their enthusiasm, hope, eagerness to learn, their dream of making the world a better place. A new community was created: a community of political science,” concludes Galasso. “ Now, they are ready to move on to new challenges, in Bocconi or elsewhere. Ad maiora."

by Benedetta Ciotto