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.

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.

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.

University Center for Bioethics

The UCB is the University Centre for Bioethics at the University of Parma, established in 2019 and based at the Department of Law, Political and International Studies. It is directed by Prof. Antonio D'Aloia.

• Activities

  • It promotes interdisciplinary research on bioethical issues, with a particular focus on the ethical implications of technology, medicine and life sciences.

  • It organises seminars, conferences and training activities open to students, professionals and citizens.

  • It fosters dialogue between science, law, philosophy and society, addressing issues such as:

  • Artificial intelligence and health

  • Ethics of care

  • Human rights and biotechnology

• Collaborations and impact

  • It works with public and private bodies, healthcare institutions and research organisations.

  • It is a reference point for contemporary ethical debate, with events such as “Health and AI: Ethics and Innovation” and meetings on nature, human experience and responsibility.

CIDEA - Interdepartmental Centre for Energy and Environment

CIDEA is a research centre at the University of Parma that focuses on energy, the environment and sustainability, with an interdisciplinary approach involving engineering, environmental sciences, economics, physics and chemistry.

It brings together experts from various fields: energy engineering, civil engineering, environmental engineering, architecture, economics, chemistry and physics.

It is organised into five operational units: Energy, Environment, Economics, Water and Data.

• Activities - It carries out research, development and demonstration activities on:
  • Renewable and non-renewable energy sources
  • Energy conversion and distribution
  • Efficient use of energy and water resources
  • Environmental impacts and solutions for ecological transition
  • It promotes technology transfer to businesses and institutions to encourage sustainable innovation.
  • It offers operational support to scientific and industrial projects, also in collaboration with the Emilia-Romagna Technopole network.