Anti-Racism Week 2026

On the occasion of the upcoming Anti-Racism Week 2026, to be held from 23 to 29 March, USI's Equal Opportunities Service and USI's International Relations and Study Abroad Service, together with the Gender and Diversity Service of the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), is proposing the project “Beyond the eyes. Stories of work from racism to inclusion”.

“Oltre lo sguardo” is a multidisciplinary project that addresses the issue of racism in the workplace, using scientific, educational, cinematographic, and literary tools. The title sums up the essence of the initiative: an invitation to look beyond superficial perceptions of others in order to grasp their complexity and humanity.

The initiative involves the academic communities of USI and SUPSI offering tools for analysis and reflection on the dynamics of racism and racism in the workplace. At the same time, the proposed activities will also be open to the general public.

Below is the program of activities, which you can sign up for via the following LINK: REGISTER
 

1. Open lectures
Classes to raise awareness of the issue of racism integrated into USI's regular study programs:

• Black Rainbow. Teju Cole and the Art of Comparison (it)
  Monday, 23 March 9:00 am – 10:30 am, A24 Red Building, USI Lugano
  Prof. Marco Maggi, Comparative Literature I course
• Title: Perceiving and Representing the Other. Diversity as a Matrix of Racism and Discrimination (it)
  Wednesday, 25 March, 11:00 am – 12:30 pm, A33 Red Building, USI Lugano
  Prof. Vincenzo Matera, Social History of Culture course
• Racism as a form of exclusion (en)
  Thursday, 26 March, 9:00–10:30 am, A21 Red Building, USI Lugano
  Prof. Jolanta Drzewiecka, Intercultural Communication course

2. Film screening "The prodigious transformation of the working class into foreigners" by Samir Jamal al Din (2024). Event in collaboration with the Human Rights Film Festival Lugano

Tuesday, 24 March, 5:30 pm, Auditorium, Main Building, USI Lugano

The film, presented in Italian with English subtitles, will be followed by an open discussion with the participation of Vega Tescari (Academy of Architecture and the Faculty of Communication, Culture, and Society USI) and Spartaco Greppi (University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI) – Basic and continuing training for DEASS).

A complimentary aperitif will be served at the end of the event.

3. Reading corners
From Monday, 23 March to Friday, 27 March, reading corners with titles and literary suggestions on the theme of racism will be available at the following USI and SUPSI university libraries:

• Lugano University Library, Lugano
• Library of the Academy of Architecture, Mendrisio
• BiblioAgorà, USI-SUPSI Library, East Campus, Sector A, Lugano-Viganello
• Library of the Department of Education and Learning / SUPSI University of Teacher Education (DFA/ASP), Locarno
• Library of the Department of Business, Health, and Social Sciences SUPSI (DEASS) - Business and Social Work Area, Manno
• Library of the Department of Business, Health, and Social Sciences SUPSI (DEASS) - Health Area, Manno
• Library and Material Library of the Department of Environment, Construction, and Design SUPSI (DACD), Mendrisio