Enza Pellecchia from the University of Pisa and Marco from the University of Padova elected coordinators of the Italian Network of University for peace
On 9th and 10th September 2022, the first National Assembly of the representatives of the Network of Universities for Pace (RUniPace), the youngest of the thematic networks of the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI), was held in Pisa.
The proceedings - which took place in the Aula Magna of the Sapienza Palace - were opened by the speeches of the Rector of Pisa Paolo Mancarella and the Rector of Brescia Maurizio Tira, promoters of the establishment of RUniPace.
Numerous Rectors from other universities - Bari, Bologna, Camerino, Catania, IMT Lucca, Florence, Marche Politecnica, Modena and Reggio Emilia, Padua, Parma, Pavia, Perugia, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa, Siena per stranieri, Tuscia, Udine - brought their greetings to the Assembly, renewing their strong support for the Network.
The Assembly elected the coordinator Enza Pellecchia from the University of Pisa and the coordinator Marco Mascia from the University of Padua.
In her speech, the Rector of the University of Padua, Prof. Daniela Mapelli, commemorating the 800th anniversary, emphasised how the University of Padua's commitment to human rights and peace has very distant origins, summed up in the motto 'Universa Universis Patavina Libertas'. Today, said Prof. Mapelli, this commitment is enshrined in Article 1, paragraph 2 of our statute, which states: 'The University (...) promotes the development of a culture based on universal values such as human rights, peace, environmental protection and international solidarity'. The University Centre for Human Rights 'Antonio Papisca', said Prof. Mapelli, has the great merit of having promoted the activation of an entire chain on human rights and peace: a bachelor's degree, a master's degree, the E.MA - European Master and a PhD.
The aim of RUniPace, to which 67 universities joined, is to promote the social responsibility of all disciplines and the attention to the building and consolidation of peace by peaceful means as the pivot of research, training and third mission activities.
RUniPace's next goals include the promotion of a PhD in Peace Studies, the introduction of a teaching programme on peace and non-violent conflict transformation in degree courses, the design and implementation of a peace education course for school teachers of all levels, and the strengthening of cooperation with civil society Peace and Human Rights Networks.
RUniPace is promoted by the Conference of Italian University Rectors and is joined by universities that base their actions on the fundamental principles of the Constitution, the United Nations Charter, the founding treaties of the European Union, the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe and the Council of Europe.