The Globalization Program

The Globalization Program at VIU is an opportunity to bring together talented, motivated students from VIU's member universities, in an international environment, and to motivate them to excel in an original and innovative program and achieve results through scholarship and experience.

The program aims to contribute to the internationalization of VIU's member universities by giving students the opportunity to study and carry out research in an international context. Furthermore the program is the impetus for an original reflection on globalization within an international network that involves researchers, policy-makers, entrepreneurs, cultural institutions and regional institutions of the countries represented at Venice International University.

The first edition of the program was launched in Spring 2009 and focused on Globalization and Sustainable Development. In the Spring 2010 edition, forty students from universities in the Veneto Region received scholarships from the Italian Ministry of the Environment, Land and Sea to promote mobility for internships at VIU-affiliated institutions abroad.

In Fall 2010 the Globalization Program will focus on Cultural Heritage Management, Innovation and Urban Policy. This new focus arises from a specific request from the Università Ca' Foscari and Università Iuav to develop the program in this direction.

Henceforth, the Fall Semester will focus on Cultural Heritage and the Spring Semester will focus on Sustainable Development.
The approach is interdisciplinary and interactive and innovative teaching methods are adopted. Guest lectures, field trips and seminars are an integral part of the programs. The courses are English-taught by professors and researchers from VIU's member universities.

Goals 

To contribute to the internationalization of the course offering of VIU's member universities by giving students the opportunity to study and carry out research in an international context on VIU's campus on the Island of San Servolo
To connect the courses to research projects, allowing the best students of the member universities to prepare their dissertations, and facilitating the circulation of ideas and innovative experiences
To begin an original reflection on globalization within an international network that involves researchers, policy-makers, entrepreneurs, cultural institutions and regional institutions of the countries represented in Venice International University.

Structure

The program is developed in three phases:
1. Courses: a set of advanced courses on Cultural Heritage (Fall semester) and Sustainable Development (Spring semester).
2. Internship: at a research center, university, cultural institution or company in Italy or abroad aimed at developing a final research dissertation, for selected students.
3. Dissertation workshop: aimed at the development of final dissertations based on the internships and research activities carried out during the program.

The Globalization Program runs parallel to the Semester Program and Semester Program courses deemed compatible with the Globalization Program will be recommended to the students of the Globalization Program. Courses of both programs are open to all students registered at VIU. Part of the co-curricular activities is compulsory for Globalization Program students.

Who is it for?

The Program is addressed to advanced final-year undergraduate students and Master's students who intend writing a final dissertation on the themes of Cultural Heritage Management, Innovation and Urban Cultural Policy or Globalization and Sustainable Development. Students selected for the program select at least one "core" course and one other course offered in the Semester Program.

Why is it useful?

You can complete your studies through advanced courses, an internship and a dissertation workshop.
You will attend courses on relevant cultural, economic and social issues.
You will be part of a multicultural community of students and professors.

> Fall Semester: Cultural Heritage
> Spring Semester: Sustainable Development