Rector Luisa Lambertini inaugurates the 2023-24 academic year

On Thursday, 7 September 2023, the inauguration of the academic year 2023-2024 took place in the Aula Magna of the West Campus Lugano. Over 260 attendees were present, including professors, researchers, and staff members. During the event, Rector Luisa Lambertini presented her vision for her rectorate and introduced her team members. The five Pro-Rectors, the Director of Operations, and the General Secretary each gave a brief presentation on the highlights of the previous academic year and shared their plans for the upcoming 2023-2024 academic year.

In her welcome to the staff, and representatives of the academic and intermediate bodies, USI Rector Luisa Lambertini recalled how young and dynamic our university is and how it has grown rapidly in terms of students, training programmes and professors. "In order to continue to improve," she said, "an adequate structure is required, with balanced and reasoned growth in services and staff training, with budgets to be given to the Faculties so that they can move within a perimeter of decisions and responsibilities that are reported to the Rectorate; and with a statute that clearly delineates the responsibilities and functions between the Senate, the Rectorate and the University Council."

Luisa Lambertini shared her priorities, which primarily embrace sustainability. She intends to achieve this through an interdisciplinary initiative that encompasses environmental, economic and social aspects. This will be achieved thanks to concrete and locally relevant projects involving the existing faculties through research, training, innovation, and the third mandate; in cooperation with other Swiss universities and relying on federal/cantonal/private funds. Lambertini cited some examples of action, such as sustainable architecture, economic and environmental policies, communication for sustainability, sustainable clinical research and more. Additionally, she aims to increase diversity, invest in young talent and enhance the region. She proposes a bottom-up approach that encourages suggestions and provides space and opportunities for discussion and debate. To facilitate this, she suggests a day for USI academic staff to meet and discuss research, training and third mandate initiatives.

In addition to the Rector Luisa Lambertini, the following spoke, in order: Lorenzo Cantoni (Pro-Rector for Education and Students' Experience), Patrick Gagliardini (Pro-Rector for Research), Luca Maria Gambardella (Pro-Rector for Innovation and Corporate Relations), Cesare Alippi (Pro-rector for Internationalisation), Sonja Hildebrand (Pro-Rector for Research in the Humanities and Equal Opportunities), Marvin Blumer (Director of Operations) and Giovanni Zavaritt (General Secretary). At the end of the encounter, the Equal Opportunities Award for scientific contributions on equality and diversity issues was conferred.

The full video of the inauguration of the academic year is available on icorsi https://www.icorsi.ch/course/view.php?id=17368 (accessible to staff and academic staff).