Equality and Inclusion

In the context of sustainability, inclusion and social justice are fundamental pillars for a university that wants to be truly fair, responsible and open to the community. Here is what they mean in this context:

• Inclusion
  • Equitable access to education: ensuring that all people, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status, can fully participate in academic life
  • Personalised support: offering tools and services dedicated to students and staff with disabilities or learning difficulties, to facilitate a satisfying university experience
  • International welcome: promoting the integration of refugees, asylum seekers and foreign students, recognising the university as a place of protection and growth
• Social justice
  • Reducing inequalities: implementing policies and projects that combat discrimination and inequality, promoting social mobility and gender equality
  • Critical awareness: educating students about social and environmental injustices, stimulating civic engagement and collective responsibility
  • Active participation: involve all members of the university community in building a fair and sustainable environment

These values are not just ideals: they translate into concrete actions, such as sustainability reports, gender equality plans and international networks for the protection of academic rights.

PUP - Prison University Centre

The PUP in Parma is part of the national network of Prison University Centres, coordinated by the CNUPP at the CRUI, and stands out for accepting students who are inmates in high-security prisons, representing a unique challenge in Italy.

• Main activities
  • It guarantees prisoners the right to university education, also promoting the right to attend classes, i.e. to meet and engage in dialogue with external students
  • It organises exams, graduations, lectures and orientation within the prison, with the participation of teachers and students
  • It provides the support of university tutors, enrolled in master's degrees or doctorates, to accompany prisoners on their academic journey
• Cultural and social commitment
  • It has expanded its activities to involve the city of Parma, with public seminars based on materials produced in prison
  • This work has led to the creation of the quarterly magazine Cerchioscritti

go to the website of PUP:

CIRS - Interdepartmental Centre for Social Research - Rights, Society and Civilisation

The CIRS (Interdepartmental Centre for Social Research – Rights, Society and Civilisation) is a research centre at the University of Parma, active since 2019, which promotes studies and initiatives on social, cultural and civil issues.

Activities:

• It develops interdisciplinary research on rights, society and civilisation, involving several university departments
• It organises seminars, events and publications on topics such as hospitality, non-violent conflict management, social memory and inclusion
• It collaborates with public and private entities on local projects and activities with a social impact
• It offers research grants and training opportunities for students and young researchers

go to the website of CIRS:

CUCI - University Centre for International Cooperation

CUCI is a university centre founded in 2019 with the aim of promoting international cooperation through academic, project and social activities, with a strong commitment to sustainability, inclusion and food security.

Activities

• Cooperation projects with developing countries, especially in Africa and South America, on topics such as:
  • Food security
  • Women's empowerment
  • Rural development
  • Academic exchanges: student and teacher mobility thanks to European calls for proposals such as Overworld
  • Training and research: collaboration with foreign universities to strengthen local skills, especially among the most vulnerable groups
  • Cross-sectoral activities: integration of technical-scientific aspects with economic-social aspects for a lasting impact

go to the website of CUCI:

CAI – Reception and Inclusion Centre

The CAI (Reception and Inclusion Centre) is a University service centre that aims to promote the reception and inclusion of students with physical, psychological, economic and social vulnerabilities through active policies such as psychological counselling, the protection of the rights of people with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and Special Educational Needs (SEN).

Activities:

• Promote and pursue actions in the field of reception, inclusion and equal opportunities for students who, within university life, experience hardship due to physical, psychological, economic and social fragility, in implementation of the University's strategic guidelines
• Implement services relating to reception, assistance, social integration and the rights of people with disabilities, Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) and Special Educational Needs (SEN), also in implementation of specific regulations in force
• Develop activities related to housing services and psychological counselling services, including with regard to international students
• Collaborate in research activities promoted by the University in the field of inclusion of students with specific needs
• Create an operational reference point for the coordination of the activities and services referred to in the previous points, also working across the board to support areas and structures of the University

go to the website of CAI:

CUG - Single Guarantee Committee

The CUG (Single Guarantee Committee for equal opportunities, the promotion of employee wellbeing and anti-discrimination) is a University body aimed at improving the quality of the academic environment by promoting initiatives that seek to spread knowledge and protect equal opportunities and anti-discrimination policies.

Activities:

• Ensuring gender equality and equal opportunities in the workplace and in education, committing to guaranteeing the absence of any form of moral or psychological violence and direct or indirect discrimination based on gender, age, sexual orientation, race, ethnic origin, disability, religion or language

• Promote the optimisation of work productivity by improving work performance efficiency, including through the creation of a work environment characterised by respect for the principles of equal opportunities and organisational well-being

• Rationalise and make the organisation of the University efficient and effective, including in terms of equal opportunities, combating discrimination and the well-being of workers, taking into account the relevant legislation

go to the website of CUG:

UNIPR for refugees

The University of Parma welcomes refugees and asylum seekers who wish to begin or continue their higher education by enrolling in a degree programme. Refugees and asylum seekers will have the opportunity to enrol in degree programmes or individual courses, as well as apply for exemption from paying university fees.

Activities:

• Participation in national and international programmes for the reception of persons with refugee status, such as the Programme UNICORE (University Corridors for Refugees) or the Manifesto dell’Università inclusiva promoted by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR)

• Administrative and educational support for non-EU students, especially those fleeing their own countries (who cannot count on the support of their diplomatic or consular representatives), in the context of recognising the qualifications of refugees with little or no documentation, also in collaboration with ER.GO mediators from associations and the Presidents of the Degree Programme Councils

• Coordination of teaching, research and third mission activities aimed at students with international and temporary protection status, through the GRUP (Gruppo Rifugiati Università di Parma)

go to the web page of GRUP:

RUNIPACE - University Network for Peace

The University of Parma is a member of the Rete delle Università italiane per la Pace, CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors). RUniPace brings together universities that base their actions on the principles of peace, human rights and international cooperation, as enshrined in the Italian Constitution and major international treaties (United Nations, European Union, etc.). The University of Parma, adhering to these values, has included in its Statute a commitment to promoting a culture based on human rights, peace, international solidarity and environmental protection, thus contributing to the cultural and civil development of society.

go to the website of RUniPace:

RUS – Network of Universities for Sustainable Development

The University of Parma is part of the RUS (Network of Universities for Sustainable Development) and pursues the objectives of the UN 2030 Agenda with a view to transparency and broad sharing of the University's principles and values with the community and the local area, in order to fully play its role as a social actor. This is the first experience of coordination and sharing among all Italian universities committed to environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

go to the website of RUS: