Inauguration ceremony for the Rector of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies, Nicola Vitiello: presentation of the programmatic guidelines that will inspire the new rector's term of office
“My dream is that the Sant'Anna School will increasingly become a point of reference, in Italy and in Europe, for those who believe that knowledge and education are fundamental levers of progress".
nauguration ceremony for the new Rector Nicola Vitiello, who took office on May 8, 2025. Vitiello, full professor of bioengineering, becomes the youngest rector in Italy at the age of 41. The event was an opportunity to discuss the values of the Sant'Anna School and to present the programmatic guidelines that will guide the newly begun mandate.
The ceremony was attended by Cons. Roberto Garofoli, Section President of the Council of State and former Undersecretary to the Prime Minister, who gave a speech entitled: “Studies of excellence, the needs of the country and the governance of its fragilities.” Addressing the students of the School, Garofoli said: “I am certain that the excellence of the training and knowledge acquired at Sant'Anna, together with the right amount of experience, curiosity, and courage, will enable you to ensure the quality of analysis, assessment, and decision-making that the country needs more than ever.”
Representatives of the institutions were present, including MPs Simona Bonafè, Giuseppe Provenzano, and Riccardo Ricciardi, the President of the Regional Council of Tuscany Antonio Mazzeo, and the Mayor of Pisa Michele Conti.
The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in the future: addressing complexities to contribute to the progress of society
In his speech, Rector Nicola Vitiello paid tribute to Prof. Sabina Nuti for the passion, dedication, and foresight with which she has carried out her role as Rector of the School in recent years, ensuring a smooth handover and full cooperation, which has guaranteed stability and continuity for the School.
The focus then shifted to the sharing of the School's values, inspired by the principles of the Italian Constitution. The Rector announced concrete initiatives aimed at promoting equality, gender equality, and the integration of students with disabilities. He also stressed the importance of freedom of research and the role of the university in deciphering the complexity of the contemporary world and offering solutions to global challenges. In an increasingly interconnected world where geopolitical challenges are becoming more complex by the day, research and investment are needed to ensure that Italy remains at the forefront of technological challenges, to guarantee national security and the defense of democracy. The same concept was reiterated in her report by Vice Rector Gaetana Morgante: faced with a profoundly changed international scenario, the Sant'Anna School must address the challenges of inclusion, sustainability, security, and peace, strongly reaffirming the University's fundamental mission: the advancement of knowledge.
The health and well-being of the community will also be a priority, with a focus on streamlining administrative processes through digitization and the integration of artificial intelligence. Finally, the Rector reiterated the School's commitment to merit and social mobility, promoting information and support to ensure equal access to higher education, in line with the identity of the Sant'Anna School as a “research university, a school of talent for a more sustainable and inclusive world.”
Finally, the programmatic guidelines that will inspire his rectoral mandate were presented: the Strengthening of the Pisa University System (SUP), with the aim of promoting Pisa as a powerhouse of scientific knowledge, training, and technological innovation at the international level; the Centrality of the College, with excellent training programs that will accompany students from their academic training to their personal and civic growth; Teaching, with a focus on interdisciplinarity and the attractiveness of doctoral scholarships, and with the creation of a “School of Advanced Education” that will provide innovative programs in strategic areas, in dialogue with businesses and institutions; Scientific research and greater internationalization, to raise the reputation of the School through tools to support basic research and the autonomy of young researchers; the Innovation Ecosystem, with the aim of creating an Innovation Hub in the new technology park in San Giuliano Terme; the promotion of initiatives aimed at enhancing research in the social sciences to support the country's institutions in the delicate management of geopolitical balances.
