On 8th August, the University of Trieste celebrates the National Day of Remembrance for Italian Workers Abroad, established in memory of the 136 Italian workers who died in 1956 in Belgium in the Marcinelle coal mine, commemorating these victims along with the many other Italian emigrants who died at work.

This anniversary calls for reflection on the central role that our Constitution has assigned to work, starting with Article 1, recognising its role as the foundation of our Republic, and assuring that in all contexts workers both male and female may be guaranteed respect for their dignity and protection.

'It is precisely the sacrifice of our emigrants of yesterday that dissuades us from turning a blind eye to the many situations of exploitation and violations of rights suffered by today's migrants, if we do not want memory to be merely a rhetorical exercise,' comments Roberta Nunin, UniTS Vice-Rector for HR, Trade Unions and Equal Opportunities. 'Swiss writer Max Frisch’s warning in the mid-1960s, who looking at the condition of Italian immigrants in Switzerland wrote, “We asked for workers, we got people instead” still seems valid today. He highlighted the paradox of socio-economic systems which, on the one hand, cannot do without immigrant labour, but on the other, try to shirk their duty to help the integration and reception of these people. This perspective is unfortunately still relevant today and requires us, as a scientific community, to continue to focus our attention on migration phenomena, social cohesion objectives and the tools to pursue them, in order to honour the memory of so many of our compatriots who perished while seeking a better life far from their own country.’

Refining our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms of different types of cancer in order to achieve increasingly targeted diagnoses and therapies is the objective of the new RESOLVE method, based on a study of ‘mutational signatures’, i.e. recurrent patterns of mutations in DNA that tell the story of the damage suffered by cancer cells and help identify their origin and mechanisms of development. 

The study presents a new computational tool to analyse the mutational mechanisms underlying cancer. By applying this method to approximately 20,000 adult and paediatric cancer genomes, the researchers were able to accurately identify a small number of dominant mutational signatures, associated with both known biological mechanisms (such as aging, smoking exposure, or defects in DNA repair) and different clinical prognoses. 

‘The problem of identifying processes that generate mutations in DNA is crucial to understanding what damages the genome and can accelerate tumour transformation. The tools we create in our laboratories are able to extract these signals thanks to machine learning techniques. This area of research sees us directly involved with several projects, such as this one in collaboration with Milano-Bicocca and others that we coordinate within our group,’ says Giulio Caravagna, professor of Computer Science at UniTS involved in the study. 

Mutation signature analysis is an established practice in cancer genomics but presents several challenges. Compared to existing methods, RESOLVE (Robust EStimation Of mutationaL signatures Via rEgularization) allows a more precise detection of mutation signatures, a more reliable estimate of their relevance in individual patients and the possibility of distinguishing tumours into molecular subtypes, with promising repercussions for personalised medicine.

This innovative method, illustrated in the article ‘Comprehensive analysis of mutational processes across 20 000 adult and pediatric tumors’ published in the journal Nucleic Acids Research, was developed by a multidisciplinary group of the University of Milan-Bicocca, coordinated by Daniele Ramazzotti (Department of Medicine and Surgery and Foundation of the Research Hospital San Gerardo dei Tintori). Researchers from the Department of Computer Science Marco Antoniotti and Alex Graudenzi, from the Department of Medicine Rocco Piazza and Luca Mologni, and Giulio Caravagna from the University of Trieste also participated in the project. The team also includes Matteo Villa, Federica Malighetti, Luca De Sano, Alberto Maria Villa, Nicoletta Cordani and Andrea Aroldi.

Gold shines bright in Piazzale Europa thanks to Tommaso Vianello!

On the final day of competition at the FISU World University Games, held in Germany’s Rhine-Ruhr region, Tommaso Vianello, a student at the University of Trieste, claimed the top step of the podium in rowing.

Enrolled in the Master’s degree program in Strategy, Consulting and Business Logistics (DEAMS), Vianello secured the gold medal in the mixed quadruple sculls, competing alongside Martina Fanfani and Alice Ramella (University of Genoa), and Lorenzo Baldo (University of Padua).

The Italian crew led the race from the very start, setting a pace that no opponent could match. With a time of 6:38.39, the quartet crossed the finish line nearly two seconds ahead of Germany (6:40.12) and more than eight seconds ahead of Lithuania (6:46.41): a commanding margin, highlighting their undisputed technical and athletic superiority.

The victory by Tommaso Vianello and his teammates contributes to the outstanding performance of the Italian delegation, which closed this edition of the Games with 43 total medals (14 gold, 10 silver, 19 bronze), placing fifth in the global medal table behind Japan, China, the United States, and South Korea, and first among European nations.

The entire academic community proudly celebrates Tommaso Vianello’s exceptional achievement, recognizing the dedication and commitment required to balance academic studies with high-level competitive sport.

The first wonderful medals for student-athletes from the University of Trieste have arrived at the FISU World University Games Rhine-Ruhr 2025!

After a top-level tournament, the Italian women's university water polo team won the bronze medal, with three UniTS students celebrating on the podium.

Giorgia Klatowski (Law), Emma De March (Environmental and Nature Sciences and Technologies), and Guya Zizza (Psychological Sciences and Techniques), key players for both the university national team and Pallanuoto Trieste, fulfilled their dream of winning a medal that rewards a path marked by great commitment and dedication.

In Duisburg, during the third-place final won 10–5 against New Zealand, the Azzurre, coached by Maurizio Mirarchi, showed determination and quality, redeeming themselves after a hard-fought semifinal defeat against the United States, which ended only in a penalty shootout after a very balanced match.

In the bronze medal final, Giorgia Klatowski scored a hat trick, and Emma De March also netted a goal.

This marks the third consecutive Universiade podium for the university version of the Setterosa, while at the Piazzale Europa campus, there is great celebration for an extraordinary result that reflects the strength of the dual career model — a model the University of Trieste actively promotes, supporting students who strive for excellence both in sports and in academics.

In the photo on the homepage, from left to right: Giorgia Klatowski, Emma De March, and Guya Zizza.

The project Compassionate Leadership – CompAct has been officially launched. Promoted and funded by the Veneto Region, it is part of a strategic intervention plan aimed at addressing the increasingly alarming rise in unplanned resignations. The project seeks to adapt the compassionate leadership model to the Italian healthcare context, proposing a leadership style capable of recognizing workplace distress, understanding its causes, and intervening to foster a more sustainable work organization — one that is centered on the idea of “caring for those who care.”

The University of Trieste is a key scientific partner in the adaptation and validation phase of the international model to the Italian context, alongside the Universities of Milan, Padua, and Verona. Representing UniTS are Prof. Sara Cervai (Work and Organizational Psychology) and Prof. Gabriele Blasutig (Organizational Sociology), both from the Department of Political and Social Sciences.

The project addresses the challenges posed by the so-called “Great Resignation” and the growing unease among healthcare workers, by promoting an approach based on mutual care, relational responsibility, and organizational wellbeing.

Developed with the scientific contributions of Michael West (King’s Fund UK), compassionate leadership is a model already successfully tested in several European countries, particularly in the United Kingdom. It has proven effective in improving workplace climate, reducing burnout, and increasing satisfaction among both healthcare professionals and patients — especially in emotionally demanding environments like healthcare settings.

“At the international level, results are promising,” said Prof. Sara Cervai. “We need to understand how this model can work in the Italian context, within a public healthcare system where people are experiencing alarming levels of distress. We are aware of the impact that leadership roles can have on staff wellbeing, and we aim to support both leaders and collaborators in regaining motivation and wellbeing in their professional practice, through a scientific approach.”

CompAct is a two-year action-research project, with field trials conducted in two Venetian Local Health Units (ULSS 3 Serenissima and ULSS 4 Veneto Orientale), involving both top and middle management in three operational units (internal medicine, emergency services, and primary care).

Within this framework, the University of Trieste is responsible for the cultural adaptation of the model, through translation, reworking, and comparison with existing best practices, in close dialogue with the professionals involved. The following stages will include implementation within healthcare organizations, scientific validation, and dissemination of results.
“There are many cultural and linguistic challenges ahead,” Cervai explained, “starting with the very meaning of the word compassionate, which in Italian must be understood as empathy and support, not as pity or sentimentality.”

The other academic partners will be in charge of quantitative validation (Prof. Paolo Gubitta, University of Padua), qualitative validation (Prof. Elisa Ambrosi, University of Verona), and dissemination (Prof. Federico Lega, University of Milan). The Veneto Region will oversee both the coordination and the implementation within the participating healthcare organizations.

The project’s kick-off meeting was held in Venice, at the Scuola Grande di San Marco Evangelista, in the presence of the Regional Minister of Health and the General Director for Health of the Veneto Region, the General Directors of the two participating ULSS units, and university representatives.

This initiative is part of the strategic actions outlined in Resolution No. 960/2024 of the Veneto Region to tackle the retention crisis in the public healthcare sector and stands as a virtuous example of collaboration between institutions, academia, and the healthcare system.

Promoting innovation, digital and green transition, and cooperation among Italian and Croatian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in the blue economy sectors: this is the goal of the LEAP TO BLUE – Unleash the potential for joint transition in the blue economy project, funded by the Interreg Italy–Croatia 2021–2027 Programme and officially launched with the kick-off meeting held at the University of Zadar.

The University of Trieste is a scientific partner in the project through the Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (DEAMS), with a team coordinated by Professor Rubina Romanello and composed of faculty members, research fellows, and technical-administrative staff: Guido Bortoluzzi, Alberto Dreassi, Chiara Marinelli, Antonio Eusebio Fiori, and Piero Gabrielli. The project, led by the University of Zadar, is expected to last three years, with a total budget of over six million euros, of which nearly one million is allocated to UniTS.

LEAP TO BLUE addresses shared challenges faced by the coastal regions of Italy and Croatia, including the adoption of advanced technologies, the development of digital and environmental skills, access to international markets, and the reduction of territorial disparities. The difficulties many SMEs encounter on the path toward green and digital transition—together with the impacts of climate change and environmental degradation—require integrated responses and a cross-border vision.

The project aims to engage over 150 small and medium-sized enterprises, supporting them in adopting sustainable and innovative practices, creating new jobs, and expanding into new markets. To achieve these goals, LEAP TO BLUE will promote training and mentoring activities, facilitate business collaborations through networking events, and implement a voucher scheme through two calls, allowing SMEs to access specialized services for innovation, growth, and internationalization.

The University of Trieste is actively involved in all phases of the project and will play a key role in two Work Packages. In WP2 – Cross-Border Partnerships and Service Launch for Blue Economy Transformation, UniTS will take part in workshops aimed at promoting the project’s opportunities to service providers and SMEs in both Italy and Croatia, including hosting one of the events in Trieste. In WP3 – Sustainability model for upskilling and reskilling to enable competitive and sustainable cross-border blue economy, UniTS will contribute to the development of a monitoring system for skill and human capital development, a strategic element for ensuring sustainable and long-lasting growth of the blue economy in the Adriatic context.

During the inaugural press conference in Zadar, Professor Romanello stated that the University of Trieste is particularly pleased to play an active role in an initiative aimed at strengthening the blue economy ecosystem in the Adriatic basin through collaboration among academia, businesses, and institutions. The project, she emphasized, represents a concrete opportunity to support SMEs in adopting more sustainable and digital business models, while creating new synergies on both sides of the Adriatic.

LEAP TO BLUE involves six main partners: in addition to the University of Trieste and the University of Zadar, participants include the Croatian Chamber of Economy, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computing at the University of Zagreb, ARTI Puglia, and Unioncamere Veneto. The initiative is also supported by numerous Italian and Croatian institutions, including HAMAG-BICRO, the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Youth, Unioncamere Italy, and ART-ER Emilia-Romagna.

Today, August 1, 2025, marks the beginning of the term of Rector Donata Vianelli, the first woman to lead the University of Trieste.

A Full Professor of Business Economics and Management, Vianelli is the sixteenth person to hold the role of highest academic authority at the University of Trieste since its founding.

She succeeds Roberto Di Lenarda, with whom a formal handover took place today, in a spirit of full cooperation and institutional continuity.

Donata Vianelli previously served as Director of the Department of Economic, Business, Mathematical and Statistical Sciences. From 2013 to 2019, she was the Rector’s Delegate for Student Orientation and Job Placement, representing UniTS in Almalaurea, in the University-Business Observatory, and in the CRUI Ranking Group.

Graduating with honors from the University of Trieste, Vianelli earned her PhD in Business Administration from Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. Her research interests include business internationalization, corporate strategy, sustainability, and supply chain management, with over 130 publications and numerous collaborations in Europe, the United States, and China.

Vianelli will be supported by Mauro Tretiach, Full Professor of General Botany and former Director of the Department of Life Sciences, who will serve as Deputy Rector for the next six years, succeeding Professor Valter Sergo.

Her term will conclude on July 31, 2031.

Brain aging mainly manifests as decreased memory capacity, reduced learning speed and reduced cognitive flexibility. But what molecular mechanisms underlie these symptoms?

So far, studies have identified several molecular processes such as DNA mutations, reduced RNA and brain protein synthesis, loss of soluble RNA and epigenetic changes. These phenomena occur simultaneously, and it is to date unclear which initially causes brain ageing and which is a subsequent effect.

According to a study conducted by an international team coordinated by the Scuola Normale with its Bio Laboratory Bio@SNS, the Leibniz Institute on Aging and Stanford University, a stalling in protein synthesis could be the first cause of brain ageing. The study was done in collaboration with the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station.

The UniTS Laboratory of Synaptic Homeostasis, which specialises in the study of brain regulation mechanisms during aging, has also contributed to this important work. The team led by Eugenio Fornasiero provided support for a detailed analysis of protein turnover in the brain.

The insight behind the study was obtained by observing the process of brain aging in the Nothobranchius furzeri (turquoise killifish), a small East African fish known for its very short lifespan in captivity (less than one year). Professor of Physiology Alessandro Cellerino, one of the study coordinators, had the brainwave of introducing the fish as a new model for the study of aging 25 years ago at the Scuola Normale. The very short lifespan of these small fish and the fact that their brain physiology is similar to that of all vertebrates greatly reduces the time and cost of ageing studies, without losing relevance for humans.

"We observed that as age progresses, ribosomes no longer flow freely but stall or lock in precise positions along RNA strands, generating incomplete proteins,” Cellerino explains. "These proteins, 'lost in translation', have a low solubility and therefore tend to precipitate inside the cell. The surprising finding is that not all RNAs are subject to this phenomenon in the same way: the proteins affected are those that comprise the ribosomes themselves, which therefore decrease in number and generate a vicious cycle.

The stalling of ribosomes, therefore, could be the mechanism linking the different molecular changes related to brain ageing.

The next step will be to use Killifish to test whether treatment with substances capable of reducing the stalling of ribosomes is sufficient to slow cognitive impairment. If this were confirmed, new avenues in the medical field would be opened up.”

Published in Science, the paper is entitled ‘Altered translation elongation contributes to key hallmarks of aging in the killifish brain.’ 

The University of Trieste is expanding its course catalogue with three new master's degree courses starting in the academic year 2025-2026. The new courses are designed to respond to current challenges, with programmes that are open to internationalisation and geared towards providing solid career prospects.

Applied Social and Cognitive Psychology (PSCA)

Languages: Italian and English
Location: Trieste

This master's degree trains students to become professionals capable of promoting mental well-being and addressing the dynamics of human behaviour in non-clinical settings. The course integrates knowledge and tools used in social and cognitive psychology with a practical approach aimed at the needs of contemporary society. 

The curriculum includes four compulsory core courses and offers students the opportunity to personalise their studies by choosing two of the following areas of application: 

• Community and Wellness

• Work and Organisations

• Ergonomics and Technologies

• People, Animals, Environments and Society

Each area of application provides students with specific educational activities, two of which are delivered in English. Students will develop advanced skills in the design and implementation of psychological interventions in organisational, technological and social contexts, promoting individual and collective well-being, inclusion, sustainability and innovation. 

Graduates will have the knowledge base required to take the national examination to qualify as a psychologist in Italy. With the skills developed during the course, graduates will be able to work as freelancers, consultants or employees within public bodies, private companies and third sector organisations. Job opportunities include, among others, personnel selection, managing group dynamics, cognitive ergonomics, social design, digital communication, sport and environmental well-being. 

The degree course in PSCA has been renewed, providing students with greater flexibility when selecting course content and an unprecedented integration between the social and cognitive dimensions of psychology. At a national level, there are currently no equivalent courses in terms of structure and setting, making this degree course unique among Italian universities.

Rehabilitation for Healthcare Professionals

Language: Italian
Location: Trieste

This master's degree provides advanced training in rehabilitation with the aim of developing skills in the fields of care, management, teaching and research. The course has been designed for graduates with a bachelor’s degree in an area of healthcare, including physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, podiatrists, orthoptists, professional educators and technicians in psychiatric rehabilitation. 

The course gives graduates access to management roles in healthcare facilities and also qualifies them to direct professional teaching activities in bachelor degree courses, teach in health science degree courses, and participate in research projects in the public and private sectors. The degree also gives graduates the qualification required to apply for PhDs and second-level master degrees. 

Offered by UniTS in the past, the course has been re-designed with a strong focus on innovative teaching and applied research. The educational design spans management, teaching and research, while also leaving space for optional activities, seminars and targeted traineeships for each of the eight professional profiles envisaged. 

New features include cutting-edge content such as active learning, remote rehabilitation, the use of artificial intelligence, virtual reality, and robotics in healthcare as well as looking at sustainable models for health systems and the fundamentals of clinical neuroscience.

Joint Master's Programme in Political Science – Integration & Governance (PoSIG)

Language: English
Location: Gorizia

This joint master's degree is an two-year international programme delivered entirely in English and involving universities from eight European countries. Students have the opportunity to study in at least two different locations, choosing from Austria, Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Italy, North Macedonia and Kosovo, and will receive a joint degree recognized by all participating universities. 

The course includes modules in: 

• Comparative policy

• European integration

• International relations

• Administration and public policies

• Political theory

PoSIG is aimed at students with a bachelor’s degree in political science or international relations who are highly motivated to take part in an international mobility experience over the two-year period. 

The course combines a solid theoretical background with emphasis on research into decision-making processes and public policies, and a focus on issues of governance and integration in national and international contexts. 

The programme also includes traineeships in international partner organisations such as the Regional Cooperation Council (RCC), the Central European Initiative (CEI), the Institute of the Regions of Europe (IRE), UNODC and the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO). 

PoSIG follows a European education model in multilateral policy and offers a unique opportunity to students who want to become experts in integration and governance in international contexts.

EMPLOYMENT DATA, INTERNSHIPS AND MOBILITY OF UNITS GRADUATES

The strength and effectiveness of the UniTS course catalogue was confirmed in the latest AlmaLaurea report, which shows employment rates above the national average. One year after graduation, the employment rate of UniTS graduates stood at 86.9% (compared to the national average of 78.6%), with an average net monthly salary of €1,607 (compared to €1,488 average in Italy). Five years after graduation, 93.0% of UniTS graduates were employed, with an average salary of €1,988, higher than both the regional average (€1,923) and the national average (€1,847). 

The indicators related to the quality of education also paint a very positive picture. 75.8% of two-year master’s degree graduates have completed a curricular traineeship. This figure rises to 87.6% if professional experience gained during a bachelor’s degree is taken into account. Finally, UniTS boasts excellent data on international mobility, with 13% of students going on mobility during their master's degrees or 18.7% if mobility periods completed during their bachelor’s degree are included. 

Full details here: https://portale.units.it/en/study/application

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

UniTS provides comprehensive support to help prospective students make informed decisions about their time at university. The Unit for Prospective Student Support and School Liaison offers personalised advice, information sessions and dedicated initiatives — both in person and online — to assist students at every stage of the decision-making process.

Contacts: +39 040 3473 787 – orientamento@units.it

In response to rising summer temperatures caused by climate change, the Occupational Medicine Unit of the University of Trieste is launching an innovative study aimed at protecting the health of wine workers in the Collio Goriziano area. 

The project, funded by Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Gorizia, continues what was already started last summer in central Friuli. The aim is to assess the effects of high temperatures on outdoor workers, prevent avoidable heat-related illnesses and develop simple strategies to optimise workplace wellbeing.

Two days of research will begin shortly, taking place on Monday and Friday, with sessions lasting approximately 30 minutes on the first day and approximately 10 minutes on the second. Participants will undergo examinations including a cardiovascular check-up, body composition analysis and kidney function testing. In other words, a free, personalised update on their health.

Through the collaboration of volunteers, the study is also an important opportunity to raise awareness and promote good health, contributing to work sustainability and high-quality products in a sector known for its excellence in local wine-making. 

The organisers are currently collecting registrations from volunteers, on the basis of which the survey days will be decided.

For more information and to participate, please send an email to: mmauro@units.it (prof. Marcella Mauro).