TURIN. The current drop in enrollments at the University of Turin probably shouldn’t cause a strong alarm. The consequences of the pandemic, with the difficulties in moving both foreign students and those coming from other Italian regions, can explain the reasons. The data on which it is more interesting to reflect, however, is that which indicates, in the last ten years, an increase in the university population in our city from about 90,000 to 120,000.
The confirmation, over a fairly long period, of this increase is significant of a stable trend which, when compared with the corresponding decrease in inhabitants in the same decade, really justifies the definition of Turin as a “university city”. The numerical data alone does not explain, of course, the importance of this feature for the future of the subalpine capital.
The contrast with the progressive aging of the Turin population is comforting. Both from the point of view of the necessary development of a modern manufacturing economy, therefore in need of high professionalism, and from that of the best prospects in the fields of culture, services, tourism, entertainment.
Turin universities have well understood the value of this constant influx of young people into the city, so much so that there is an investment plan to expand the offer. The Politecnico continues its expansion and building modernization, like the University, both with the Grugliasco center and, for example, with the restructuring of the former headquarters of the “Stampa” in via Marenco.
The real problem for university Turin is that of being able to keep students in the city who, once they have graduated, find work elsewhere. This is a commitment that concerns, first of all, the political class, starting with the Municipality and the Region, but which must also find particular attention in our universities.
Turin must not be perceived only as a factory for university degrees, but as a training center that ensures interesting and profitable job prospects. This is the reason for a double necessity. On the one hand, that of maintaining a teaching offer of excellence, in spite of self-congratulatory clichés, not always maintained in all courses. On the other hand, the desire to innovate teaching contents and methods, also in the light of this fundamental objective which, apart from prejudices, does not at all mean a lowering of the cultural and scientific level of university education. Seriousness of studies and adaptation to the needs of the contemporary world are not in contrast, but they are complementary and indispensable commitments to offer Turin a better future.
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