USI celebrated its 30th Dies Academicus

The 30th Dies Academicus of Università della Svizzera italiana, held on Saturday, 25 April, in the Lugano West Campus Aula Magna, opened with speeches by the President of the University Council,Monica Duca Widmer, State Councillor Marina Carobbio Guscetti, and Interim Rector Gabriele Balbi. The celebration featured a panel discussion titled "Being a University Today," moderated by Professor Raphaël Parchet, USI Pro-Rector for Research, with the participation of Deniz Gyger Gaspoz, Rector of the University of Neuchâtel, and Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zurich. During the ceremony, numerous honours were conferred: an Honorary Doctorate to the Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, Micaela Serafini; Honorary Memberships to Marisa Garzoni and, in memoriam, to Mauro Martinoni; USI Medals to the first Deans of the Faculties, Pietro Balestra and Aurelio Galfetti (both in memoriam) and Eddo Rigotti; as well as the USI Raiffeisen Award for Best Teaching to Luca Massimiliano Visconti and Gabriele Bavota, the USI Alumni Award to Fabio Bossi, and the USI Zonta Club Sustainability Award to Ludovico Giacomo Conti.

In her speech, the President of the University Council, Monica Duca Widmer, retraced USI's thirty years of development, highlighting how the University was born from a farsighted choice and today represents a consolidated reality, capable of combining international openness with local roots. She pointed out the profound transformations of the Swiss university system, which has grown in size and complexity, and the increasingly central role of university education in responding to the needs of a rapidly changing society. Recalling current challenges, particularly regarding resources, she stressed the need to make strategic choices to ensure USI's quality, attractiveness, and future development, while strengthening collaboration with the region and the ability to attract new funding. In this context, she reiterated that the University represents a strategic infrastructure for the Canton Ticino and is called upon to contribute actively to the cultural, social, and economic development of Italian-speaking Switzerland.

State Councillor Marina Carobbio Guscetti emphasised the value of Università della Svizzera italiana as an academic community founded on shared growth and dialogue with society, thanking everyone who supports its activities daily. She mentioned the ongoing institutional transition phase, expressing gratitude for the leadership of Interim Rector Gabriele Balbi, and clearly addressed the financial and political context that will lead to savings measures, including in the university sector. Despite this framework, she reaffirmed the strategic importance of education and research for the Canton, inviting USI to continue strengthening its quality, collaborations, and local impact. Significant space was dedicated to the challenges posed by artificial intelligence, with a call to the University's fundamental role in developing critical thinking and fostering shared ethical reflection. On the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary, she finally highlighted the need to renew the pact between University and society, also recalling the words of Giuseppe Buffi and remembering key figures like Mauro Martinoni, as a testament to the cultural and civil heritage on which USI is founded.

Interim Rector Gabriele Balbi highlighted USI's significant evolution over the last thirty years, in terms of students, research, and affiliations, as well as the construction of an academic ecosystem in the region. Alongside the figures, he stressed the central role of people and announced the appointment of Alan Valnegri as USI's new Director of Operations. After reviewing the highlights of the last academic year, the Rector offered an extensive reflection on the University's role today. On USI's thirtieth anniversary, the presence of a historian at the helm of the University naturally drew attention to the University's roots and the very meaning of the University, both as a general concept and as a specific institution. Balbi proposed an introduction aimed at framing the original meaning of being a university—balanced between a sense of community and guild, of universality and totality—and a seemingly more mundane function as a community and place of teaching, learning, and research. He then addressed the trend towards the progressive corporatisation of universities and its consequences. Finally, after sharing key terms from previous rectors, Balbi proposed his own interpretation, launching three key themes for the present and future. Firstly, "the University is a place where we work together with a shared vision: for this reason, one of the main objectives of the coming years should be to relaunch a shared vision capable of making us all move in the same direction. This spirit was strong at the beginning of the University; today it must be reactivated." The Rector then emphasised the University's role as a place for the exchange of ideas: "our role goes beyond conferring degrees and scientific research: we prepare citizens to face current challenges, with flexible minds and solid tools. This is even more essential today, in a context of rapid change linked to artificial intelligence." Finally, the Rector emphasised three levels of connection: "first, that the USI community should feel at home within the institution; second, that the university should feel at home in the Swiss Italian-speaking region; and third, that the local community should embrace USI as a cherished part of their own identity—much like a favourite room in one's house that offers a sense of refuge."

The reflection on the meaning of being a university today in Switzerland continued with a panel discussion, led by Professor Raphaël Parchet, USI Pro-Rector for Research, involving two authoritative voices from the Swiss academic scene: Professor Deniz Gyger Gaspoz, Rector of the University of Neuchâtel, and Professor Günther Dissertori, Rector of ETH Zurich and Vice President of the USI Council since 2024.

Honours

As is tradition, and even more so in this thirtieth anniversary year, the Dies Academicus was also an opportunity to confer several important honours.

Dr Micaela Serafini, President of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland, received an Honorary Doctorate in Biomedical Sciences "for her contribution as a doctor on the front lines of numerous humanitarian crises and today as Director of Médecins Sans Frontières Switzerland. Ideally, this recognition is also dedicated to all healthcare workers who, with selflessness, do not fear to travel the dangerous roads of health emergencies every day."

The USI Raiffeisen Best Teaching Award was presented to Professor Gabriele Bavota and Professor Luca Massimiliano Visconti "for the quality of their teaching."

The USI Alumni Award was conferred on Dr Fabio Bossi "for his successful career in the field of economics."

The USI Zonta Club Sustainability Award was presented to Ludovico Giacomo Conti for his article “Green after green: Identifying drivers of the current greenlash and how to safeguard SDGs in times of sustainability backlash”.

Marisa Garzoni was appointed an Honorary Member of USI "for her constant, hospitable, and committed generosity, which has allowed USI to organise conferences, events, courses, and research projects aimed at peace and understanding between cultures."

Mauro Martinoni was appointed an Honorary Member of USI, in memoriam, "for his witty, creative, and pragmatic commitment that allowed the foundation and development of Università della Svizzera italiana."

USI Medals were awarded to Pietro Balestra and Aurelio Galfetti (both in memoriam) and to Eddo Rigotti, as a sign of gratitude for their significant contribution to the development of the University as the first Deans of their respective Faculties.

Music and Artistic Interludes

The ceremony was accompanied by artistic and musical performances by Fabio Pusterla and Terry Blue, during which extracts from Umberto Eco's opening address for the 25th anniversary of the Magna Charta Universitatum were recited.

Art and Science Exhibition

On the occasion of the Dies Academicus and the UniVerso Open Day, USI also hosted the Art and Science exhibition in the Foyer of the Aula Magna, by artist Claudia Cantoni and biologist Ester Piovesana, which creates a dialogue between scientific research and artistic language through microscopic images of cells and neurons. The exhibition will remain open until 15 May.

Photos of the ceremony can be downloaded free of charge from 2:00 pm at the following link: www.copyrightfree.ch/home