University of Milano-Bicocca - A new University founded on research
VoiceS Conference (c by University of Milan Bicocca
The University of Milano-Bicocca was founded with the goal of making research, understood as the expansion of knowledge and training skills, as a way of connecting with the local territory, and as a means of contributing to the development of the productive system.
The University has stable and strong links with the business world and devotes particular attention to the local context in which it is set, whilst giving high priority to the international dimension.
In just a few years important results have been achieved as the high number of citations obtained at the international level by the publications of teachers and researchers.
In the Times Higher Education rankings for 2012 dedicated to the hundred universities established less than 50 years ago, the University of Milano-Bicocca was ranked 25th in the world, and 1st in Italy, and 8 out of 14 departments are defined “of excellence”.
Bicocca offers a wide range of degree courses in Economics-Statistics, Law, Medicine, Phycology, Science, Sociology and Education. The available training offered includes: 32 Bachelor’s Degree courses, 36 Master’s Degree courses and 5 Long-cycle Master’s Degree courses (5 or 6 years).
It is an inclusive university which shares, respects and protects diversity, as one of its main values.
History
In 1998 the old buildings of the Pirelli factory were turned into a state of the art complex including: extremely modern research laboratories, big study areas and common areas for students. A unique university campus in Italy with its 28 buildings spread all over Milan, Monza and the Maldives. In less than 10 years, the Campus quickly took shape and form. All the buildings were brought into play, with classrooms and laboratories, and many services for students were developed.
Since 1998 the University has built the future, turned its district around, and trained young students to become informed adults ready for the real world. The growth of the Campus, which has become an integral part of the surrounding area, continues today with new projects, the development of student residences and the steady improvement of services and infrastructures.
A multidisciplinary University
Today, the University of Milan-Bicocca University is a multidisciplinary institution that trains professionals in various disciplines: economics, law, science, technology, medicine, statistics, sociology, psychology and pedagogy.
Teaching is divided into 66 courses in seven broad areas: economics/statistics, law, medicine, psychology, sociology, pedagogy.
With the entry into force of the new statute on June 7, 2012, activity has been reorganized into 16 departments in which more than 900 professors and researchers and about 1,500 post-graduates in training (students, residents and fellows) carry out research and teaching. There are 33,000 enrolled students, of which over 2484 are international.
Student orientation is continuous during the course of study with guidance and tutoring and, after graduation, with job activity placements and internships that lead to the world of work and prepare students to meet companies in the best way possible.
The importance of the international dimension
Our university teaches its students to seize the world’s opportunities and not to be frightened to confront them and put themselves out there.
Internationalisation, in coordination with research strategies, is realized via 358 agreements with institutions in 41 countries which represent an important instrument for mobility of students, researchers and teachers. Dual degree programs are active with non-EU and EU Countries (France, Russia, United States, Argentina, Cuba).
In 2011, on the island of Magoodhoo in the Maldives, the MaRHE Center was opened. This center is dedicated to frontier research on coral reefs and the sustainability of the marine environment. It hosts also an International Master.
Culture, services and sport
Cultural activity is very intense with dozens of conferences, debates, exhibitions, concerts (amongst other things the University has a choir and three orchestras in which enrolment is free), which are always open to the public and local residents.
The campus is easily accessed by main lines of communication and transport. There is a nursery, and a Kindergarten coordinated directly by the Department of Educational Sciences, which is also open to the children of students, and spaces and services for the disabled.
For students coming from outside Milan (almost 16 per cent of students come from other regions), there are two large residences with furnished apartments, study areas, kitchens and areas for recreation. For sport there is a fitness centre, a gym-hall with basketball and volleyball courts and agreements with local major sports areas of such as Bicocca Stadium that has tennis courts and athletics tracks.
A modern and efficient campus
The campus consists of 25 modern buildings that span a total area of 290,000 square meters, distributed between the city center and the Monza Biomedical pole a few kilometers from Milan.
There are 200 wired and equipped classrooms 20,000 classroom seats of which 300 are for disabled people, and almost two thousand workstations. There is full WiFi coverage, dozens of equipped studio spaces, libraries, residences, canteens and transportation services (free bus shuttle service and a fleet of bicycles for moving between buildings).
