Fondazione Comunità Domenico Tardini

Friday, January 18, 2008

Fondazione Comunità Domenico Tardini

The Fondazione Comunità Domenico Tardini university college was founded in 1946 by Monsignor Domenico Tardini, the future Secretary of State to Pope John XXIII. The college welcomed and supported in their studies, talented children and young adults, as well as orphans and students from poor backgrounds.

In 1980 it was turned into a university college and is run by the Domenico Tardini Community Foundation, made up of alumni engaged in universities and the professional field. Cardinal Achille Silvestrini is the president of the Foundation and Professor Angela Gropelli its vice president.

The Foundation is located in Villa Nazareth in Rome. Admission is not fee-based, as specified in the statute of the Foundation. It welcomes male and female students from low-income families, who have shown outstanding performance at school. Successful applicants can register in state, private or papal universities after receiving thorough, individual guidance on the most appropriate course of study.

In addition to their university studies, students are expected to undertake a rigorous, integrative journey towards their personal development. The residences also play host to graduates who show exceptional skills in their post qualification courses, specialising in masters and postgraduate programmes.

Taking inspiration from the parable of talents in the Gospel of St. Matthew (Matthew 25, 14-30), the college helps to shape young adults who use the natural gifts they have been given responsibly.

The Foundation operates along three principles: the Christian meaning of existence; respect for individual freedom; the importance of knowledge.
Services and facilities

Residential services: accommodation in single-, twin- or three-bedded study rooms, shared bathrooms, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, daily cleaning of communal areas, laundry and ironing service.

Resources and facilities for study and leisure activities: library, main lecture theatre and conference rooms, computer room, drafting room, playing fields and gym, newspaper reading room, TV lounge; garden and lawns, chapel.

Cultural and formative activities: study guidance, tutoring, career counselling, international exchanges, foreign study grants, annual foreign language and computer courses, theology courses, lectures and seminars on specialist topics, conventions, conferences and meetings.

Associazione CUIR (Rome), Livingston Italy

Associazione CUIR (Rome)

The Associazione “Collegio Universitario Internazionale di Roma” (hereinafter CUIR) is a non-profit association established in Rome on 13th September 1990.

It has a real concern for the care and support of Italian and foreign university students which is developed through its cultural and teaching activities. CUIR offers students a wide range of courses and opportunities to develop key skills on a professional and personal level thus supplementing the academic skills taught at university. Currently, the college hosts 82 male students from 29 different countries and several university lecturers. It is situated in the Trastevere area of the city and is within half an hour’s bus journey from the main university faculties. Approximately 15 students are selected each year on the basis of an entrance examination (one written test and an interview). Selection criteria include school or university curriculum, a psychometric test and a knowledge of languages.

The College plays a role in many projects and ventures involving cooperation and voluntary work throughout Europe and around the world. Together with 14 other institutions from 11 European countries, CUIR has, in fact, founded a network called International Cooperation Net (ICNET), which promotes student initiatives of a cultural and voluntary nature throughout Europe. One of these initiatives is “Solidarity Day” which aims to increase sensitivity to the issue of voluntary work, as well as a work camp in Nicaragua, to help people hit by Hurricane Mitch. Together with three European NGOs: the Austrian ICEP (Institut zur Cooperation bei Entwicklungs Projekten); the Portuguese ISU (Instituto de Solidariedade e Cooperação Universitária); the Italian ICU (Istituto per la Cooperazione Universitaria) it is part of the EU-approved project for the “Reinforcement of the awareness of Business and Industry’s Social Responsibilities in European Universities”.

Its purpose is to promote an awareness among university students of the social obligations facing companies working in developing countries.

In the same way, the Collalto Cultural Centre – via Emilio de’Cavalleri, 7/A – founded and run by CUIR, organises activities for high school and university students in Rome.
Services and facilities

Residential services: single- and triple-bedded study bedrooms with shared bathroom; daily breakfast, lunch and dinner; weekly change of bed linen, weekly laundry and ironing service, minor repairs and daily room cleaning service.

Resources and facilities for study and leisure activities: library with 25 reader places, 3 study rooms with 120 places, computer room with 10 places and 15 Internet connection points, garden and 2 chapels (one dating back to the 18th century). All rooms and facilities can be accessed by students with mobility impairments.

Cultural and formative activities: tutoring, courses on study methods and languages, conferences, conventions and meetings with professors and lecturers as well as with visiting speakers from the worlds of commerce and industry, voluntary work and social promotion schemes, international exchanges.

Collegio di Milano (Milan) in Italy

Collegio di Milano (Milan)

The Collegio di Milano opened in February 2003 thanks to a joint effort between Milan’s seven universities and several public and private institutions. The aim of the college is to offer an outstanding, interdisciplinary cultural and personal preparation to a selected group of undergraduates, post-graduates and researchers.

The central feature of the College is its Cultural Programme which places strong emphasis on interdisciplinary expertise. The College offers courses that encourage skills development both within and outside of the curriculum and which envelop both our humanistic culture and the principles of science. The College also promotes work placement schemes in various companies and institutions backing the project and can thus complete students’ training by giving them the opportunity to gain first hand experience in the workplace .

The College is situated in a 7,000 sq.m building on a 23,000 sq.m. campus. It recently underwent restoration in keeping with Marco Zanuso’s original architectural design.
Services and facilities

Residential services: accommodation in 100 single-study bedrooms, each with en-suite bathroom and balcony, 10 guest rooms for visiting professors, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner, light-refreshment service, daily room cleaning service, weekly change of bed linen, medical assistance.

Resources and facilities for study and leisure activities: Library, lecture rooms, conference rooms, study rooms, main lecture theatre; video-recording and videoconferencing systems; “mobile wireless” data network, fully equipped gym, sports facilities and parkland.

Cultural and formative activities; lecturers’ club, cultural events programme, lectures, meetings and talks with guest speakers from the fields of business, theatre, films and journalism; tutoring, foreign university exchange schemes, workshop sessions (languages, art, current affairs issues), calendar of events and exhibitions (theatre, music, photography, cinema, painting).