USI has been a reality for 25 years: today it counts 3,350 students from 100 countries, 5 Faculties, 10,000 alumni in the world. It is well represented in the leading international rankings and receives competitive research funds for 23 million per year. Celebrate with us!

In its 25th anniversary Università della Svizzera italiana takes the opportunity to introduce itself (or rather reintroduce itself), and to keep opening and spread its wings on the region.

Two main themes…

The main thematic threads of the anniversary, intertwined, will be two:

• “Facciamo conoscenza”, a set of editorial concepts and exhibitions, events and partnerships to get to know USI and its wealth (“facciamo conoscenza” in the sense of “let’s get to know each other better”) and to highlight USI contribution in the development of knowledge (“facciamo conoscenza” in the sense of “we are a workshop of knowledge”);
• “USI IS U”, a set of initiatives that aim to tell the story of USI as a place of opportunities, a unique and unexpected university where everyone – with his or her own voice, curiosity, and drive – can develop his or her potential through encounter and dialogue.

…four key events…

The main events that will mark the year will be:

• Facciamo (cono)Scienza
  A two-day event dedicated to the dissemination of science, part of the ” Facciamo conoscenza” (Let’s get to know each other) theme and in synergy with an initiative of the Science and Youth Foundation.
  23-24 April, West Campus Lugano.
• XXV Dies academicus
  The University’s annual celebration will take on a unique look, representing the highlight of USI’s 25th anniversary.
  8 May 2021, Palazzo dei Congressi, Lugano.
• Alumni Reunion
  A reunion dedicated to all University’s graduates, who are the “yous” who, over the years, have shaped USI.
  3-5 September 2021, West campus and East campus Lugano.
• Town Festival for Est Campus
  A joint USI-SUPSI-Città di Lugano event. 
  25 September 2021, Est Campus

… and a line-up that will be gradually defined.

Over 30 events have already been selected to become part of the USI25 calendar and will be identifiable thanks to the dedicated logo, published in the photo gallery above. Professors, researchers and staff members can still submit their ideas through the form attached to this page (the second deadline has been set for 15.4.2021).

A dedicated website is under construction with the detailed schedule, preview of some of the content that shows the richness of the year that lies ahead.

• For the “Facciamo conoscenza” thread the main event will be held on 23 and 24 April in conjunction and collaboration with the National Science and Youth Competition. In addition, we will have the opportunity to converse with a Nobel Prize winner, to celebrate our 25th anniversary in conjunction with the 10th anniversary of the Research Day in Human Medicine, to commemorate 700 years since the death of Dante Alighieri, to (re)introduce USI as a “knowledge lab”, as well as to undertake a 25-year journey in architecture with and through our Academy. We will run the first “Formula USI”, we will drink several scientific coffees, we will discuss the dual relationship “convergence/distance”, and we will explore the stars at L’ideatorio and the Archives of the 20th century, between words and music, to discover eight great songwriters.
• For the “USI is U” thread, one of the highlights of the 25th anniversary will be with the reunion to which USI’s 10,000 alumni are invited. We will also propose events dedicated to our staff, we will climb 25 peaks in Ticino, we will print a lexicon on USI’s history, an institutional charter and a code of ethics. On February 24, we will also inaugurate “townhall meetings”, a new way to engage as a community.

In 2021 there will also be room for inaugurations: that of the East Campus, of the Bellinzona Campus, of the new premises of the Library of the Academy of Architecture, and that of the USI Startup Centre.

Geraldine, what is your current position?

Partnership Development Specialist at United Nations Volunteers.

Why you decided to start an EMBA?

I wanted to study something that was in a different domain from my previous studies. I was looking for a study that would give me a different and enriching perspective on how I approached my work tasks. In addition, being a full-time employee, I needed flexibility in order to disrupt as little as possible my working presence. 

Would you suggest an EMBA to women? Why?

Yes, I would definitively suggest it. An EMBA gives you a 360-degree vision of the working environment, giving you the possibility not only to develop new competencies and skills, but also tools to analyse and decide how to approach the challenges of the working environment and career for a woman.

In addition, it expands your network and you then have more people you can contact to exchange ideas and solutions. In some cases, it can make you feel that you are not the only woman facing some type of problems, such as reconciling career and family, and you can dialogue with people in similar situations.

Which challenges did you meet?

When I began the EMBA I lived in Panama. Every month I had to travel to Lugano. My supervisor at the time supported me strongly in pursuing this study and gave me the needed flexibility. The compromise I had to make was to have less time for myself, my hobbies, family and friends. Particularly as a woman, this can be a challenge if you have a family as you have to find an equilibrium between the EMBA, work and the family.

Describe yourself before and after EMBA in three words.

Before: limited competences in finance, fragmented business administration expertise, no in depth knowledge of business theories.

After: More competent, analytical, realistic.

How the program changed your mindset?

The program definitely changed my mindset. I now look more at working tasks and career with a more realistic and analytical approach. In particular, I also adopt a multidisciplinary approach when analysing situations. I reckon I have a better financial perspective, both at work and in my private life, and this helps me a lot in taking decisions.

The Faculty Council of the USI Faculty of Economics has confirmed Prof. Gianluca Colombo as Dean. 

Gianluca Colombo is Full Professor at the Institute of Management and Organisation (IMO). Previously he was Full Professor at Università dell’Insubria, and Associate Professor at Bocconi University in Milan and at Università degli Studi in Pavia. His other previous roles: Deputy Professor at the Sapienza University of Rome; Visiting Professor at the EM Lyon business school, at Aix-Marseille III University, and at Università Federico Santa Maria di Valparaiso (Chile). Prof. Colombo is member of EURAM (European Academy of Management), and of the Academy of Management. He has published several books and academic articles in the fields of strategic management, M&A, complexity theory, entrepreneurship, and family business –the latter for which he is a consultant. Prof. Colombo is the Director of the USI EMBA – Executive Master in Business Administration.

Annalisa, what is your current position?

I am CFO of Kern Tunneltechnik SA, the family business of me and my husband.

How the EMBA helped you in your job?

EMBA improved my knowledge in all the aspects of the business, but the most important help was the improvement in my mindset.
I managed to see my business from different points of view and I gained a deeper understanding of its peculiar dynamics.
I got more confident in myself and in my potential.

During my EMBA, my firm was running a negotiation with an important construction company in order to enter in our business and support its growth.
Thanks to the knowledge acquired, I was able to debate our position, to analyze all involved factors with the help of the gained tools, to find compromises and take the right decision. I’m sure I wouldn’t been able to do so successfully without my EMBA experience.

Why you decided to start an EMBA?

I decided to start this journey because our company was growing fast, and I wanted to be ready to bring it to the next level: from a small family business to an international organization.
At the moment we have our Headquarter in Switzerland, and some subsidiary companies in Slovenia, UK and Spain.
Our next big step will be Australia, a new challenge.
EMBA added also a valuable academic knowledge to my professional expertise: theory and practice are two sides of the same coin.

Describe yourself before and after EMBA in three words.

Before EMBA: limited knowledge, lack of strategic and international approach

After EMBA: consolidate knowledge, self-confident, and successful.

How the program changed your mindset? Did it changed your temper?

I became more confident and stopped analyzing each detail, looking at the bigger picture.
My strong temper did not change, it is way too explosive to me tamed, but I managed to channel and focus my energies in a strategic way.
I remain an energetic and passionate woman, lover of rock music. Imagine that at our graduation party I invited the band of a very good friend to perform with me on the stage.
Being a strong woman means not to compromise your true essence, yet being able to negotiate with your counterpart.

Would you suggest an EMBA to women? Why?

Of course I would recommend EMBA for women.
It is a journey to become more self confident, strongly competent and a way to show the value of women in business.