Unipd supports those arriving from countries at risk
03.03.2023
To continue its solidarity with those suffering from particular forms of difficulty, the University of Padua has developed targeted services and support, not only for refugees and asylum seekers but also those at risk due to situations that prevent freedom of study and research in their home countries. By reformatting initiatives implemented in recent years, the new structure offers support in a more programmatic with a less emergency-based nature.
With this in mind, the Board of Directors of the University of Padua has resolved to make 144,000 euros available for Scholars at Risk 2023, which offers eligible scholars a research fellowship for a minimum of three months that is renewable up to a maximum of twelve months. The resolution also includes 180,000 euros distributed across 22 scholarships of 8,000 euros each for eligible students admitted to a Bachelor's, Master's, or single-cycle degree course for the 2023/2024 academic year. Eligible students must show documentation certifying an “at risk” status from within Italy or abroad, such as, but not limited to, a residence permit for international protection, political asylum, subsidiary protection, or humanitarian reasons.
To consolidate the initiative, the University will launch a fundraising campaign for additional funds to allow for the expansion of the number of scholarships already allocated or to generate savings for the University by replacing the funds already allocated.
“Over the years, the University has shown its support for students and staff arriving from less developed countries or those caught in midst of war, including those from Burma, Afghanistan, and Ukraine. The People at Risk working group, chaired by myself and Professor Monica Fedeli (Vice-Rector of the Third Mission and Regional Relations), facilitates not only students but also teachers, researchers, and technical administrative staff who, coming from countries at risk, intend to carry out their activity at the University of Padua,” says Cristina Basso, Vice-Rector for International Relations.
The institutional policies of the University of Padua have always promoted the internationalization of the student body by encouraging the attraction of international students from different countries. Since 2017, the University began implementing specific actions to promote its educational offer to those abroad. Aimed to improve its attractiveness, the University offers financial benefits and economic support to international students who choose the University of Padua as a place to carry out their studies. Faithful to its motto "Universa universis patavina libertas", the University promotes numerous initiatives aimed at the protection of scholars and students living in a situation with particular forms of difficulty.
The Scholars at Risk is an international network of which the University has been a member since 2017, from here, the University of Padua launched the Scholars at Risk Italy section in 2019. The University of Padua is an active member of the University Corridors for Refugees (UNICORE) project promoted by the United Nations Higher Commissioner for Refugees, welcoming refugee students arriving from targeted countries identified by UNHCR Italy for the 2020/2021 academic year. The CRUI “100 Scholarships for Refugees” supports students with international protection in Italy for the 2019/2020 academic year. More recent student at-risk initiatives include the UniPD Rescue Fund, UniPD 4 Afghanistan, UniPD 4 Ukraine, and the UniPD 4 Myanmar created upon request by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
