Academic Year 2025–2026 Inaugurated Under the Banner of Human Rights and Social Responsibility

The inauguration of the 2025–2026 Academic Year at the University of Sannio, dedicated to human rights and the dignity of the person, took place at a time that strongly reaffirmed the University’s role as a pillar of knowledge, social cohesion, and democracy.

The ceremony was opened by the Mayor of Benevento, Clemente Mastella, who stressed the strategic value of universities in Southern Italy and in inland areas: “Universities are the thread of Ariadne that can lead us out of social marginality. They are the antidote to the ‘genetic lottery’ that must not condemn a young person from the South to fewer opportunities than someone from the North. Young people should dream of changing the country, not of leaving it.”

In her address, Rector Maria Moreno began with a thought for academic communities in countries affected by conflict: “Today our thoughts go to colleagues and students in countries at war, recalling the urgent need for solidarity and dialogue to build a future of peace.” She then outlined the priorities of her term: “Not a report, but a commitment: to strengthen teaching and research, enhance the University’s attractiveness, and deepen dialogue with the local area.” At the heart of her strategic vision were the training of the future ruling class and the University’s role in inland territories: “The quality of education shapes the quality of future leadership: we must combine technical skills with civic awareness. Being a University in these territories is not a limitation, but a duty: to reduce inequalities and guarantee the right to study.” The Rector reaffirmed the centrality of academic freedom, recalling Giulio Regeni, and emphasized that “speaking about rights today is not only necessary: it is urgent.”

A particularly meaningful moment came with the collective readings: students, together with technical-administrative and library staff, gave voice to excerpts by Gino Strada, turning the inauguration into a shared act of testimony to the values of dignity, solidarity, and responsibility. The readings were accompanied by Chiara Civale on violin and Gianluigi Pennino on guitar and double bass from the Accademia di Santa Sofia. The ceremony had opened with the performance of the Italian national anthem (Inno di Mameli) by students of the Nicola Sala State Conservatory of Music.

Guest of honor, director Matteo Garrone, shared a reflection on the tragedy of migration: “When I conceived Io Capitano, I felt embarrassed, coming from a privileged position. Then I decided to put myself at the service of those who have no voice. I wanted to show the film also to those who face those crossings, so they could see what awaits them and recognize themselves in a story born from their own experiences.”

In his keynote lecture, jurist Felice Casucci underscored the public responsibility of culture and the value of the University as a place of moral as well as technical formation: “Culture cannot be an alibi or a mask, but an act that educates and builds. The University must be a center of honest work and a tool for equality at the starting line. To young people I offer a simple exhortation: work for yourselves and for others, because work is freedom and dignity.”

“The University of Sannio plays a central role in educating new generations, in research, and also in enhancing inland areas by supporting their cultural, social, and economic development. As institutions, we will not fail to provide our support. Universities are fundamental democratic strongholds, places of learning and knowledge that must be supported. I thank the Magnificent Rector, Professor Maria Moreno, for the invitation to take part in the inauguration ceremony of the new academic year,” said the President of the Campania Region, Roberto Fico.

The ceremony thus became a moment of shared reflection on the University’s role in promoting knowledge, social justice, and sustainable development, strengthening the bond between the University, the territory, and the wider community.