Welcome 2023, USI welcomes first-year students

Università della Svizzera italiana welcomed more than 800 first-year students in Lugano and 130 in Mendrisio. The welcome event was packed with participants and activities, including official presentations, campus tours, and introductions to university services. Social gatherings were also held in the lead-up to the YOUniversity USI SUPSI party on 28 September at the Campus Est Lugano.

The autumn semester 2023-24 marks the beginning of the academic path at USI for many Bachelor and Master students; to present the university to the freshmen, the USI Welcome 2023, now in its fourth edition, was held on Thursday, 14 and Friday 15 September at the Lugano and Mendrisio campuses. 

Welcoming the students for the official greetings was another freshman. This year marks the debut year of the Rector Luisa Lambertini, who shared with the students the usual feelings associated with such situations: enthusiasm, curiosity, and a hint of anxiety. The Università della Svizzera italiana is fortunate to have passionate teachers, talented researchers, and a community of students who are eager to share their experiences. The Rector emphasised the importance of being open to change and people from diverse backgrounds. Inclusion, respect, and diversity are core values at USI.

The Pro-rector for education and students' experience, Lorenzo Cantoni, also invited the attentive audience to participate in their education actively, reminding them that, since their inception, universities have practised two forms of teaching: the lectio, i.e. the frontal lecture in which a text was traditionally read and commented on, and the disputatio, a dialogue primarily managed by male and female students.

As in previous editions, Ticino Turismo welcomed first-year students from all over the world, inviting them to discover the beauty of our region. This year, Ticino Turismo has partnered with the Museo d'Arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI), providing free admission to its premises. The freshmen were introduced to the student body's activities, academic tools, and IT services, and then participated in activities based on their study programmes. In the afternoon, administrative services, the University Library, and guided campus tours were available to the students.

USI Welcome 2023 also featured convivial moments: an aperitif in the park adjacent to the Palazzo Canavèe in Mendrisio and the ARCADEmic Get-together at the Lugano Campus, an opportunity to take a leap back in time with pinball, darts and popcorn, challenging one's new classmates in a convivial setting.