University of Bologna

The University of Bologna is a multi-campus public university and one of Europe’s oldest universities, founded in 1088. It serves a broad community of students, academic staff, researchers, and professional staff across five campuses in Bologna, Cesena, Forlì, Ravenna, and Rimini, with additional branches and international sites. Its mission combines teaching, research, and societal engagement. The University positions itself as a place where knowledge, innovation, and social responsibility meet, with a strong emphasis on access to education, interdisciplinary research, international cooperation, and service to the wider community. The University also presents itself as a partner for companies, public bodies, and non-profit organisations through research collaboration, continuing education, technology transfer, and innovation-oriented projects. Core Values Access to knowledge : The University explicitly frames the right to knowledge as a fundamental principle and works to make study possible regardless of financial circumstances. Inclusion and respect : It emphasises respect for difference, gender equality, and an inclusive academic environment that values diverse perspectives. Innovation and quality : Continuous improvement, quality assurance, innovative teaching, and research excellence are recurring themes in its strategy and governance. Sustainability and responsibility : The University links its activities to sustainability, ethical conduct, transparency, and social responsibility. International cooperation : It values mobility, partnerships, and global collaboration as part of academic and social development. Unique Aspects Historic and large-scale institution : Founded in 1088, the University of Bologna combines long historical continuity with a very large, modern academic structure. Five-campus model : Its multi-campus presence across Emilia-Romagna allows it to combine broad territorial coverage with local engagement. Strong international network : The University participates in major alliances and networks such as Una Europa, the Coimbra Group, the Guild of European Research Intensive Universities, and other international associations. Open Science leadership : It has adopted open-access and research-data policies, runs repositories and support services, and participates in initiatives such as OpenCitations and CoARA-related reform efforts. Recent industrial agreements : In 2026 it signed five-year framework agreements with CNH and Vertiv to expand collaboration in research, innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship, education, and career guidance. Research infrastructure investment : The University inaugurated new precision-agriculture research infrastructures supported by more than €12 million from PNRR funds within the AGRITECH project.