On Thursday 14 November, in the Aula Magna of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the Inauguration Ceremony of the 2024-2025 Academic Year was held in the presence of Prof. Paola Severino, President of the National School of Administration.
After the institutional greetings of the Mayor of Brescia Laura Castelletti, the President of the Province Emanuele Moraschini and the Regional Councillor Simona Tironi, the inaugural speech was delivered by the Rector Prof. Francesco Castelli.
«The Italian university landscape faces many structural challenges in a changing world that demands an ever-increasing degree of professionalism and competence, - said the Rector Prof. Francesco Castelli -. The University of Brescia presents a solid scenario, one of progressive growth in reputation and appreciation of its teaching offerings. The research parameters are very high, but we want to do even more to position our University firmly in an international context of ever-increasing innovation and technology transfer. However, there is still concern about the state of health of the Italian university system: Italy's situation in the European context remains critical, with a tertiary education rate in the 25-39 age bracket well below the average for continental Europe, and our province is unfortunately no exception. These critical issues are then compounded this year by a contraction of the Ordinary Financing Fund. It is absolutely necessary that public and private institutions in the area understand the added value of “their” university by supporting it and creating synergies and alliances with a view to mutual trust.»
The program of the ceremony, accompanied by the Chorus Universitatis Brixiae, then included speeches by student representative Linda Anelli and Federica Pellegrini, representative of the technical-administrative staff.
The day closed with Prof. Paola Severino's Lectio Magistralis, “Education: a fundamental challenge for growth that respects the values of democracy and merit,” dedicated to the role of university education and public administration as the backbone of an efficient constitutional state.
«We need to make the world of work more dynamic, open to international comparison and technological change. Education plays a key role in this process, as a fundamental challenge for growth that respects the values of democracy and merit,» said Prof. Paola Severino. «To the students who will choose to pursue a career in Public Administration, I would like to convey the pride and satisfaction that come from serving one's country. Working in PA offers the opportunity to contribute to the collective welfare, to make a difference in people's lives.»