Our department (DiSUM) has always focused on high quality research. In 2017, excellent results were achieved which led to DiSUM being named as one of the best departments in Italy in the historical-philosophical, literary, artistic and linguistic sectors. This is an acknowledgment of important national importance, certified by the Miur, which guarantees high quality university education of students.

Our teaching reflects the advanced research levels reached by our teachers and is characterized by continuous interaction with students, including through educational tutoring. The figures speak for themselves. First of all, the teacher:student ratio, which is significantly low when compared to large universities; a relationship that allows you to enjoy quality teaching in spaces that are functional to learning, large and modern, fully-equipped. Interdisciplinary courses allow students to strongly grasp the links between the various sectors of humanistic knowledge while also focusing on a solid education in his/her own field. Students can make use of a well-equipped open-shelf library, with welcoming study spaces and socialising areas.

New students will also be able to benefit from international opportunities, from at least one of the numerous partnerships with foreign universities or by enrolling in the Double Degree programme which allows them to obtain both an Italian and French degree simultaneously. And that’s not all: our department is particularly attentive to the world of work. There are many scheduled annual meetings with local companies and institutions that allow DiSUM teachers to understand local employment needs, and incorporate these when designing courses. For this reason, agreements have also been signed for the activation of training internships (some are offered by the Job Placement service, others are provided within the Library, and yet others on the University radio or at companies, schools, public and private organisations). These internships allow students to develop practical and professional skills. For those who wish to pursue a teaching career in schools, it is possible to acquire, without moving to other universities, all the compulsory credits that provide access to the annual secondary school teacher training course.

A student’s university experience is accompanied by fundamental support in terms of information accessible on the department website. In this way it is possible to find DiSUM’s general, structural, technical and content information, and access the programmes of the new academic year.

Finally, I would like to mention the positive feedback of students who have studied in our department. DiSUM can proudly make use of significant advantages (Double Degree, favourable student / teacher ratio, excellent quality of teaching and research, laboratories, numerous internships, web radio, equipped and spacious classrooms, a well-equipped library, research doctorates, teacher training, a Literature course also in Alessandria, etc.), which make it possible for us to increase the number of students who enrol every year and to register a very high percentage of students who would gladly repeat their university experience here in Vercelli.

Michele Mastroianni
Manager of the Department of Humanities