Demographics, digital transformation and the brain drain were the focus of the meeting organised by the Portogruaro Campus Foundation, which brought together Tiziana Lippiello, Rector of Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and Donata Vianelli, Rector of UniTS.

The discussion highlighted the strategic role of universities as drivers of cultural, social and economic development supporting innovation, research and regional competitiveness. In particular, they discussed the need to strengthen links between universities, the business sector and local communities emerged as a key approach to tackle the challenges of the knowledge economy.

The focus was on the North-East, a region that must retain talent and foster dialogue with businesses, especially in light of data on youth mobility: over 450,000 Italians moved abroad between 2011 and 2021.

Other key issues included the impact of demographics on the university system, the decline in enrolments and the need to make universities more attractive internationally.

‘The issue of brain drain must be addressed with a broad perspective: internationalisation is a value and studying abroad represents an important opportunity for our students, but it is equally necessary to create the conditions for the skills acquired to return and generate value in their home regions,’ emphasised Rector Lippiello. ‘Today, the competitive salaries offered by other countries, the clarity of career prospects and, in certain fields such as STEM disciplines, the tendency of some companies to recruit young people before they have completed their university studies all play a significant role.’

‘The impact of demographic trends on universities is already very evident and, in some respects, is felt earlier than in other sectors. The decline in enrolment is intertwined with other structural challenges, such as the difficulty of offering competitive prospects compared to other European countries and the persistence of obstacles in career paths, starting with those for women,’ highlighted Rector Vianelli. ‘Universities cannot directly influence demographic trends, but they can and must strengthen their ability to support students, make themselves more attractive internationally, and create environments that are increasingly conducive to people’s education and development.’

Also present at the meeting was Massimo Forliti, a board member of the Portogruaro Campus Foundation.