The University of San Marino has reached and surpassed the 1.000 enrollment mark. This announcement was made during the inauguration ceremony for the 2019-20 academic year held yesterday at the Kursaal Congress Center. Rector Corrado Petrocelli emphasized the achievement and reaffirmed his determination to continue the expansion that is characterizing the University of the Republic of San Marino. "A few years ago, it seemed like a dream," he explained to an audience of academics, students, institutional representatives, and trade unions. "In this context, I am very pleased to note the increase in the number of young San Marino citizens choosing our institution." A sign of confidence from the local community, therefore, for a University that is focusing on what needs to be done to expand its offerings: "We lack a student center to welcome students and faculty who will arrive thanks to our approximately 40 partnerships with universities around the world," stated Petrocelli. "Furthermore, the staffing is inadequate; we need more people with specific skills. We want to exercise our autonomy and we need stability, including among faculty." Marco Podeschi, Secretary of State for Education and Culture, echoed this sentiment: "For San Marino, the University is an asset that must be guaranteed greater financial and personnel autonomy. I also agree with the need for a stable faculty resident in the Republic, to provide continuity for those who passionately collaborate with the University." Finally, new spaces are needed to accommodate growth: "Not rooms, but entire buildings." Patrizio Bianchi, Regional Councillor for European Development Policies and Education for the Emilia-Romagna region, also had words of praise: "One can only be impressed by the rapid and solid progress of this University."
Then came the Lectio Magistralis entitled "Quality of Citizenship, Quality of Democracy," delivered by Ferruccio de Bortoli, president of the Longanesi publishing house and former editor of the newspapers Il Corriere della Sera and Il Sole 24 Ore. "This University displays extraordinary vitality," he explained after his speech. "Today I will speak about the awareness needed by citizens of Western democracies, so that they can be true citizens, not subjects. Our generation is content, restless, and a bit selfish. It should rediscover its responsibility towards future generations." These words are part of the initiatives organized by the University of San Marino to raise civic awareness, with conferences and other events: "We want our students," the Rector said, "to become aware and capable citizens."
