Message from Dean Micelli

2007 promises to be an exciting year for VIU. We have ambitious plans for a new mobility program for young researchers and for a virtual VIU community. There are also some important dates in the calendar of VIULECTURES.

Mobility for Research
We have now launched a mobility program to encourage excellence and scholarship among young researchers of the member universities. Students will be assisted by VIU in identifying research opportunities in the member universities, and mobility grants are available. The first phase involves students of graduate degrees and three exchange programs have been established with Duke University, Tongji University and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona.
During its second phase, the mobility program will be expanded to involve all member universities. The aim is to organize and sponsor 20 research projects per year.

VIULECTURES
This initiative was launched in 2006 to provide a platform for international and Italian professors and experts to discuss key issues in current debate. Audio files of the lectures are available on VIU’s website. There are already two important dates in the calendar:

10 May, 2007, 5.30pm:
Design and culture. Finnish Brand Design and Nokia
Eero Mittienen, Head of Design and Innovation, Nokia

May 24, 2007, 5.30pm:
Transdisciplinarity between Art, Technology and Economics as a Principle for continuous Innovation
Bernd Wiemann, Head of Research and Development, Vodafone

VIU Community
A virtual VIU community is under development to strengthen the VIU network. Keeping people connected through a web platform will facilitate the exchange of experience and ideas and allow students and faculty to continue their “VIU experience” long after their sojourn in Venice.

All these initiatives will strengthen the ties among scholars, researchers, professors and students and the local community, stimulating intellectual growth and opportunity.