FAMI "PASSI" Project: Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies at the Forefront of Training, and Inclusion at the Local Level
The Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies is the scientific partner of the PASSI project, coordinated by the Prefecture of Massa-Carrara: an 18-month programme designed to strengthen local governance, provide training for public sector personnel, and support the social and labour market integration of the most vulnerable individuals
Promoting a stable, efficient, and inclusive reception system through a strong combination of scientific research and tangible social impact at the local level is the main objective of the FAMI project "PASSI" (Pathways for Reception and Integration towards an Inclusive Social and Territorial System). The initiative is funded by the Italian Ministry of the Interior through the 2021–2027 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), with a budget of approximately €400,000. The project is led by the Prefecture of Massa-Carrara in partnership with the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa and the Provincial Centre for Adult Education (CPIA) of Massa-Carrara.
PASSI builds on the legacy of the previous Sirio Migranti project, with the aim of translating academic research and legal frameworks into effective local governance models capable of providing practical responses to the inclusion needs of third-country nationals.
Training, Research, and Beyond: Sant'Anna's Role in the Project
The Dirpolis Institute of the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies coordinates the project's scientific and methodological support, focusing its activities over the 18-month implementation period on four main areas:
Field Research and Governance: The School will conduct research on the conditions of asylum seekers and the functioning of inclusion pathways in the Province of Massa-Carrara. Particular attention will be devoted to socio-economic integration and the transition to independent living for young adults aged 18–22 and for individuals in situations of vulnerability.
Advanced Training for Public Administration and the Third Sector: Two advanced training courses (40 hours in total) will be delivered, each providing participants with university credits (CFUs). The first course, currently open for enrolment, will focus on immigration and asylum law in light of the new European Union Pact on Migration and Asylum (see link: https://www.santannapisa.it/it/alta-formazione/la-disciplina-dellimmigrazione-e-dellasilo-alla-luce-del-nuovo-patto-dellunione). The second course, scheduled to begin in February 2027, will address service design and access to housing and employment.
Applied Laboratory Programmes: The School will organise two 20-hour laboratory courses. The first will focus on cultural mediation techniques at the local level, while the second—designed specifically for CPIA teachers—will develop innovative teaching methodologies for civic education targeting third-country nationals.
Support Services and Operational Guidelines: A dedicated team from the School will provide case management and advisory services aimed at facilitating access to housing and employment for vulnerable migrants, working closely with Extraordinary Reception Centres (CAS), provincial social services, and the Regional Employment Centres (ARTI). The project will conclude with the publication of a final report and a set of operational guidelines intended for local stakeholders.
The activities are coordinated by Francesca Biondi Dal Monte, Associate Professor of Constitutional and Public Law at the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies.
Building Local Synergies: The Technical Working Groups
The effectiveness of the PASSI project's governance model and its integrated theoretical and practical approach is grounded in close cooperation and continuous dialogue through local technical working groups.
Among the working groups involving the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies are:
Technical Working Group on the Memorandum of Understanding: This group aims to expand and strengthen the Memorandum of Understanding originally established under the Sirio Migranti project by extending the local governance network to include all Third Sector organisations in the Province of Massa-Carrara. Its objectives include promoting widespread information desks, peer education initiatives, and safeguarding the right to education for foreign minors.
Technical Working Group on Labour Market Integration: This group seeks to develop and standardise operational procedures for supporting the socio-economic integration of unaccompanied foreign minors (UFMs), vulnerable families, and young adults aged 18–22 transitioning to independent living.
