Re‑week 2026: Great success for the USI and SUPSI Sustainability Week

The second edition of Re Week, the USI and SUPSI Sustainability Week, has come to a close. From 9 to 13 March, it brought the Lugano West, Lugano East and Mendrisio campuses to life with a programme of activities dedicated to environmental (renew), economic (rethink) and social (relate) sustainability.

The initiative, organised in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences and Arts of Southern Switzerland (SUPSI), attracted a large number of students, as well as academic staff, administrative staff and external visitors.

Over the course of the five days, workshops, conferences, informal sessions and participatory activities fostered dialogue, raised awareness and encouraged active engagement on issues central to the future of society.

Among the most popular events were the morning sessions with Masaba coffee, a cooperation project between Ticino and Uganda, which created daily opportunities for meeting and dialogue at both the West Campus and the East Campus. During these informal sessions, participants were also able to test their knowledge with short quizzes on various sustainability topics and learn about the Alpine Seminars organised by the House of Sustainability, held at the USI branch in Airolo. This was followed by the After Class Multiethnic Aperitif in collaboration with the AIESEC student association, which allowed participants to test their knowledge of sustainability, learn about the initiatives and voluntary work carried out by AIESEC members, and engage in discussions over a lavish multiethnic aperitif prepared by the Red Cross’s Umamy project.

The ‘PIRM Talk & Networking Apero with TicinoEnergia’ event offered participating students a unique opportunity to explore potential Bachelor’s and Master’s thesis topics to be carried out in collaboration with the company, in a constructive and professional atmosphere, whilst taking the chance to engage with professionals interested in their skills and knowledge. The event was organised in collaboration with Impact Hub Ticino and Social Business Earth.

During the Week, clothing swaps were also organised in Mendrisio and at Campus Ovest, promoting a circular approach to fashion, as well as the ‘Corpi mutanti’ event.

Furthermore, in the canteen during the Week, a vegan meal was available, and diners had the opportunity to find out the environmental impact of the food they consumed via the eco-score.

‘Women, Time, Care’, a conference organised by the Equal Opportunities Service in collaboration with the USI Institute of Italian Studies, and a Repair Café with ACSI, which made a tangible contribution to waste reduction by repairing small items.

Re-week confirmed the USI community’s interest in and commitment to sustainability issues, offering students the opportunity to discuss, share experiences and reflect on new practices for a more responsible future.