Planning 2025-2028: USI defines strategic lines of development for the next four years

"USI's vision is clear: to continue growing in strategically important areas and to solidify our position, becoming a driving force for the region and its economic fabric." The strategic areas are defined in Planning 25-28 as a result of an inclusive, bottom-up process to identify existing opportunities that were then adapted to the available resources.

The planning document starts with strategic and cross-cutting themes. Firstly, it emphasises the goal of becoming a younger university, thanks to the generational turnover facilitated by renewing the faculty and recruiting assistant and tenure-track professors. The first theme is closely tied to another crucial element of planning: improving gender equality, with a target of 40-50% of new proposals being presented to women candidates. Additionally, the commitment to sustainability, an area in which USI has been active for a long time, will continue to be a key focus, as highlighted by the Rector. "USI plays a leading role in environmental, social and economic sustainability. We are also committed to becoming a sustainable campus and promoting research, teaching and third-mandate activities in this field".  

"In the next four years, USI plans to expand and enhance its campuses in Lugano, Mendrisio, and Bellinzona, transforming them into university districts capable of fostering both academic activities and community life. The expansion of continuing education will address the changing market needs, while the intensification of fundraising activities aims to diversify the University's funding further."

Another key element of the plan is the strengthening of the Pro-Retectorates, organised around key areas such as education, research, internationality, innovation and sustainability. These centres of responsibility will be tasked with promoting excellence in each area through specific resources and initiatives.

At the same time, USI's Faculties will be granted greater autonomy and resources, boosting research and teaching and strengthening links with the region and industry. This increased decentralisation is meant to encourage innovation and make USI more responsive to the changing academic and social environment.

As part of the 2025-2028 development plan, special attention has been given to strengthening USI's administrative structures. The plan includes adding more human resources and enhancing skills within the administrative services to provide effective support for the academic and infrastructural growth of the University. USI is dedicated to improving administrative processes by adopting new technologies and information systems that facilitate efficient and transparent management of university activities. This will not only increase the University's operational capacity but also create a more dynamic and interconnected working environment to support the ambitious initiatives outlined in the strategic plan.

The document is the result of the collaborative efforts of the USI community at all levels, from staff to full professors, who were invited to share their ideas in the context of a project aimed at defining the University's development priorities. This cross-cutting project engaged the entire academic community and the central bodies, including the Rectorate, the Management Committee, the Academic Senate, and the University Council. You can access the document (Italian only) online by clicking here or by downloading the attached PDF file.