Alessio Cavicchi, Full Professor in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Agro-Environmental Sciences, has been appointed by Rector Riccardo Zucchi as Delegate for the promotion and coordination of the activities of the Circle U. Alliance.
Professor Cavicchi, who is already actively involved in the Alliance as Societal Engagement Lead, will now be responsible for coordinating and enhancing Circle U. initiatives, fostering greater involvement of the academic community and strengthening relations with European partners and local stakeholders.
Circle U. is the European University Alliance of which the University of Pisa is a member. It was established with the aim of strengthening collaboration in education, research and engagement with society among its nine partner universities and seeks to build a shared European university campus. Through the integration of expertise, services and educational pathways, Circle U. enables students, academics and staff to move, study, teach and collaborate across national borders. They can share courses, research projects, infrastructure and initiatives focused on innovation and social impact.
“European University Alliances are among the most ambitious projects of the Erasmus+ programme, with a perspective that extends well beyond the current EU funding cycle,” comments Professor Cavicchi. “This offers the opportunity for ongoing dialogue with the European Commission and other EU institutions, as well as structured engagement with other alliances and with the Italian universities involved. We can take part in a major innovation laboratory and contribute to shaping the future of the university system in Italy and Europe. The Alliances promote new forms of collaboration in education, research and the generation of social impact. In this context, achieving European Degrees is an ambitious yet essential challenge, one that requires not only new tools, but also cultural and organisational change within universities.”
Professor Cavicchi also highlights how activities already developed within Circle U., in collaboration with academic and technical-administrative staff and students, have clearly demonstrated the value of the Alliance for students, PhD candidates and early-career researchers, who benefit from a stimulating environment for international learning, professional development and interdisciplinary exchange.
“For the students enrolling at the University of Pisa today, the opportunity to access shared courses and mobility opportunities at partner universities such as King’s College London, the University of Vienna or the University of Oslo represents a defining element of their educational pathway, capable of broadening their academic, cultural and personal horizons. In my new role, I intend to work to further strengthen the involvement of the entire academic community — students, academic and technical-administrative staff — as well as local stakeholders, in Circle U. initiatives. The aim is to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by the Alliance and to contribute to the strategic positioning of the University of Pisa at European level. I would like to thank Rector Riccardo Zucchi and Vice-Rector Giovanni Federico Gronchi for the trust they have placed in me, and all those who have contributed, and will continue to contribute, to the development of the Alliance’s activities.”
