Faculty Nursery School
Since September 2002, the Faculty has provided a nursery service for the staff and the students' children. This was the first nursery made available in a university in Italy.
The nursery can host up to fourteen children who can play, eat, and take an afternoon nap together, supervised by two wardens and assistants: the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine offers a high number of nursery posts at its head quarters in Ozzano Emilia.
The Faculty has 220 staff members altogether, comprising lecturers, researchers, and technical-administrative personnel, while the students number around 1,000.
As it is not so infrequent for student to become parents during their academic careers (which lasts at least six years), the nursery is also open to their children.
Furthermore, a special agreement with the Council of Ozzano gives local families the chance to use the nursery facilities for their children as well.
This is the first ever University nursery facility provided at an Italian university.
Suggested a few years ago by the Faculty staff, and soon approved by the University and the Faculty administration with a great financial and organisational commitment – it is not so unusual for a university Faculty to have to deal with setting up a nursery! - The nursery school has been built from scratch, and has been set up according to the needs of the children (including toys, facilities and open-air playground for summertime activities ). The facility is now run by a local cooperative company - Seacoop.
The nursery welcomes children from 1 to 3 years of age, and is open from 8 am to 5 pm. The school is also trying to set up and run a pre- and post-nursery service by recruiting voluntary workers, i.e. students willing to help families with the children.
All the families residing in the neighbouring area of Ozzano - including Bologna - can apply for the service, even if the nursery school is not totally open to the public.
Source: Patrizia Romagnoli, Press Office, University of Bologna, 5th September 2002.