From university classrooms to the world of work, through the concrete experience of those who lead businesses every day, create jobs and build professional paths. This is the objective of «Gender Space Network for the future», the strategic agreement signed today between the University of Mediterranean Studies of Reggio Calabria and the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, in the presence of the President of the Foundation, Lella Golfo.
The signing took place in the Collegiate Organ Hall of Palazzo Campanella, as part of SuperScienceMe 2026, the event which for four days brings Mediterranean research into contact with students, citizens and the territory through meetings, workshops and scientific dissemination initiatives. At the center of the protocol there is a precise objective: to offer young students new opportunities for discussion, orientation and professional growth, making the wealth of experiences and skills of the national network of the Bellisario Foundation available to them.
«With this agreement we want to make the strength and experience of our network available to young students – declares the President of the Marisa Bellisario Foundation, Lella Golfo -. An agreement like the Gender Space Network can do exactly what the market alone does not do: create real connections between those who generate the work and those who have the skills to make it grow. Concretely, it means mentoring to support each young graduate with an established professional who guides her, advises her, opens doors that would otherwise remain closed. It means targeted orientation, to help girls read the market and position themselves in sectors where their training can really make a difference. It means quality internships in companies led by women, which become leadership training grounds. And it also means creating an elevator culture: we who have arrived have the duty to send it back down, to let the others go up. The Bellisario Foundation has been doing exactly this for almost 40 years, and a network rooted in Calabria can become the human infrastructure that is missing between the university classroom and the first contract. We have had expressions of interest from other Italian universities and I hope that the one with the Mediterranean University will become a pilot project to be exported to all regions”.
The protocol pays particular attention to the protection and enhancement of heritage, culture and tourism, areas in which research, training and innovation can contribute to the construction of new development models. Innovative teaching methods, supplementary training plans, cycles of seminars on the management of architectural heritage, modules dedicated to future professionals and mentoring programs “from the classroom to the construction site” are also envisaged to accompany the transition from university education to professional experience.