Mentorship Project
The project "Mentorship - Towards an Italian network of inclusive universities" is aimed at international students enrolled in years subsequent to the first of bachelor's, master's and single-cycle degree courses.
Project objectives:
- Encourage the engagement of students and support dialogue on the role of young people as key actors in promoting inclusion and multiculturalism.
- To disseminate or improve knowledge of sustainable strategies related to the creation of mentorship schemes and to encourage the sharing of good practices among universities, in order to create a network of the universities involved.
- Support universities in developing institutional strategies (including formal recognition of student committees) that cover the full range of different university structures (governing bodies, third mission office, international relations office, student services, student associations, faculties and research departments).
- Integrate results, approaches and good practices that can be replicated into a toolkit for use by universities for the creation or improvement of mentorship schemes.
The project was born thanks to the support of the Department for Civil Liberties and Immigration of the Ministry of the Interior (MoI), the Coordination Office for the Mediterranean of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), in partnership with the Conference of Rectors of Italian Universities (CRUI) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Universities and Research (MUR). The universities involved are: University of Roma La Sapienza, University of Pisa, University of Naples L'Orientale, University of Roma Tre, University of Milan Bicocca, University of Palermo, University of Bari Aldo Moro, University of Turin, University of Sassari and University of Padua.
The team of the University of Padova, made up of student collaborators, coordinated by Andrea Gerosa, Unipd lecturer, and the Admissions and Welcome sector, prepared a survey sent to international students with the aim of collecting their needs and consequently designing a plan of support and integration activities in the territory.
Guided tour of the Botanical Garden (November 12, 2021)
Anenriching experience for the participants, who were able to make new discoveries regarding the incredible world of flora and botany
Guided tour of the Museum of Geography (December 3, 2021)
The first in Italy, the Museum of Geography of the Department of Historical, Geographical and Ancient Sciences accompanies the visitor in the rediscovery of the charm and strength of geography, a discipline that has always been animated by the desire to know the world through the continuous comparison between methods of the natural sciences and the social sciences.
Guided tour of Palazzo Bo (11 December 2021)
The tour "Palazzo Bo and the '900 of Gio Ponti" includes a guided tour of the Courtyards, the Rectorate, the Ancient Archives, the "anatomical kitchen" and the Anatomical Theater. The Basilica, the Aula Magna Galileo Galilei, the Sala dei Quaranta, the Sala di Medicina can also be visited.
Guided tour of the Botanical Garden (April 29, 2022)
After the success and great participation of the first visit, we propose again this enriching and fun experience: the participants will have the opportunity to make new discoveries in the incredible world of flora and botany, accompanied by an expert guide, free of charge and in English.
Naturalistic photographic exhibition curated by Daniele Dell'Osa (27 May 2022)
Meeting with Daniele Dell'Osa, a young traveler photographer who will tell through his art, the wild nature, the unspoiled landscapes and beautiful rare and protected animals he has encountered. The exhibition will be held at the Giardini dell'Arena.
Photo contest "My country in a photo" (4-24 April 2022)
A competition between original photos, taken by students, of a culturally typical element (traditional dish, landscape, folkloric dress) to share a part of one's tradition. A UNIPD prize is up for grabs!
Intercultural swapping (April 8, 2022)
A unique opportunity to get to know each other better in the beautiful atmosphere of a park, with a combination of nature and art. Each student will bring a poem, a short story, a book, a song or a painting on the theme of "interculture" and will give it to another member of the group.
Needs analysis survey (October – November 2020)
Survey created with the aim of identifying the main problems encountered by students of international origin. On the basis of the survey, most of the following activities were then organized:
Focus groups (22 and 23 January 2021)
Two online meetings with the aim of providing feedback to students regarding the survey carried out and to deepen the main problems experienced daily by students of international origin.
Meme contest on Instagram (March 8 – March 28, 2021)
Meme contest on the exam session at Unipd. The best meme won a Unipd award. 4. Icebreaking nights (March 13 and April 24, 2021)
Icebreaking evenings held on the Zoom platform with the aim of bringing together and encouraging interaction between international and Italian students. The evenings also fulfilled the function of providing "social" support during COVID lock-down periods. Among the activities carried out: games and cultural quizzes.
Q&A Session (April 17, 2021)
Q&A session on Zoom, during which international students were able to ask any questions to mentors about university life, sharing experiences. 6. Cultural tips (March – May 2021)
Launch of Instagram stories (quizzes and insights) on culture, food, places of interest in Padova and Veneto.
'Did You Know?' (March – May 2021)
Instagram column: Stories on the "International Days".
Photo contest on the corners of Padova (21 May – 16 June 2021)
Photo contest on the glimpses of Padova. The photo with the most likes won a Unipd award.
Tour of Padova (July 7, 2021)
An evocative tour of Padova in the footsteps of artists such as Kenny Random and Street Art.
Global Engagement Office - Admissions and Welcome Unit
Lungargine del Piovego 1 - 35131 Padova
Email: mentorship@unipd.it