2005-2025: 20 Years of Activity
Since 2005, USI’s International Relations and Mobility Service has supported students, researchers, and faculty in mobility experiences, cultural exchange, and scientific collaboration, continuously evolving to meet the challenges of the contemporary world. In this section, we celebrate the journey, the milestones achieved, and the stories that have shaped our international vocation, while also providing a glimpse into future opportunities and projects.
Our story
2005
Founding of the International Relations and Study Abroad Service.
2006
First participation in the EAIE conference in Krakow, marking the beginning of our establishment in the European network.
Opening of the Casa dell’Accademia with accommodation for international students.
2007
First edition of Eurocampus at USI.
Start of management of the Swiss Confederation's Excellence Scholarship Programme (ESKAS) for the Italian-speaking region of Switzerland.
2008
Opening of USI HOME, the residence that has contributed significantly to the accommodation of international students.
2011
Renewed official participation of Switzerland in the Erasmus programme, following its withdrawal in 1996.
2013
Launch of the Come&Go newsletter, with the aim of keeping readers up to date on the activities and events of the Service.
2014
The vote on 9 February 2014: Switzerland's exclusion from the Erasmus programme. The Swiss government's transitional solution SEMP (Swiss-European Mobility Programme) ensures the continuity of exchanges.
2015
In ten years, 1,643 student mobilities have been managed: 767 outgoing and 876 incoming.
2016
The 10th EMA Assembly (Erasmus Mundus Association) is hosted at USI, with alumni from 170 countries.
Affiliation with the Scholars at Risk network for the protection of academic freedom.
2018
Creation of the International Relations Commission. Colleagues from partner universities participate in the USI Staff Days ahead of the EAIE in Geneva.
2019
Appointment of Prof. Cesare Alippi of the Faculty of Informatics as first Pro-rector for Internationalization.
2020
Spread of Covid: travels and activities slow down but the international spirit does not. Development of new forms of mobility.
2021
Publication of the first Annual Report.
2022
Process digitalization in line with the project Erasmus Without Papers.
2023
Publication of the Report on Internationalisation by Movetia: USI is one of the four Swiss universities with over 20% of graduates having an exchange experience.
2024
First edition of Il Mondo in USI: international week, which includes the event ‘Mobility Day’ in collaboration with Movetia. For one week, USI's international vocation is at the centre of the campuses.
2025
Beginning of the InclUSIone project, which offers access to studies to deserving individuals from the asylum sector. For the 20th anniversary, redesign of website to reflect the expansion of the activities.