Chiaruzzi: "The mission is to strengthen cooperation in education, research, and innovation."
Governance, autonomy, funding, innovation in teaching, data sharing, and research cooperation, with the possibility of establishing a joint working group. These are some of the topics addressed during the eighth annual meeting of the Network of Universities of Small States and Territories (NUSCT), held on Friday, May 8, and hosted by the University of Montenegro in Podgorica.
At the strategic forum, attended by twelve institutions from the international NUSCT network, the University of the Republic of San Marino was represented by Michele Chiaruzzi, who offered his contribution in a series of reflections on shared challenges, best practices, and common priorities: "Our University," the academic explained, "is among the founding members of this ever-expanding institution, from which it has benefited greatly. Our mission is to strengthen cooperation in education, research, and university innovation, while promoting academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and sustainable development in small European higher education systems."
During the meeting, NUSCT President Aslaug Asgeirsdottir, Rector of the University of Akureyri (Iceland), emphasized the group's role as a reliable platform for dialogue and collaboration, highlighting its achievements in student and staff mobility programs, as well as institutional cooperation.
Positive feedback also emerged from the first NUSCT academic conference, conceived by the University of San Marino and held in the Faroe Islands last year. A new edition will be co-hosted in 2027 by the University of Andorra and the Åland University of Applied Sciences, adopting an interdisciplinary approach.