If we want university studies to give efficient and profitable results, infrastructures and activities of support are also needed: libraries, study halls and financial aid programs, including full-year scholarships, special programs for periods of study abroad and programs for the elaboration of the final thesis on a specific topic.
The first infrastructure which we point out to students is the
Servizio Orientamento (Guidance Service). The Service helps students in choosing their degree course and the single study courses on the basis of their potential and their skills. Moreover, it provides for support throughout the entire academic career, including assistance for newly graduated students in evaluating the skills and competence acquired in order to identify a possible professional development path. The first step for students in
Cesena is then a visit to the
Servizio Orientamento, located in
Viale Europa 596.
The
Azienda Regionale per il Diritto allo Studio (Agency for the Right to Study) is the only channel to gain access to
scholarships and other financial aid programs such as total or partial exemption from tuition fees, lodging, part-time work activities at the University, etc. For all first-year students, the requisites for obtaining a scholarship exclusively depend on their annual family income; to apply, students have to make attention to the publication of the relevant application form, generally released between June and July each year.
In addition, the University grants other financial resources for
periods of study abroad and other programs financed in collaboration with local private and public entities which allow students to study and make researches in Italy or abroad in view of the final thesis. The range of services is so wide! To learn more, students are invited to regularly inquire at their Faculty office.
Another significant support is given by the numerous university students’ associations, which encourage aggregation, organize
parties and events, and supply for services such as
learning material, special discounts at local restaurants and shops, photocopy service,
assistance in filling the individual study programs, etc. The students’ associations operating in the city are listed on the Web Portal of the University in
Cesena:
www.polocesena.unibo.it.
Undoubtedly, libraries are the best place for study and in
Cesena there are
five university libraries: the Library of the Faculty of Architecture, the University Campus Library of Food and Nutritional Science, the Library of Information Science, and the Library of the Faculty of Psychology, The Library of the II Faculty of Engineering. Their catalogues are all electronically connected in a network helping study and research activities from all Campus Faculties. This continuous and up-to-date information and service flow is certainly a useful tool for the activities of study, insight analysis and specialization. In addition to libraries, the University offers numerous
study rooms where it is possible to study in a peaceful and more intimate manner.
For all students, it is strongly recommended to improve their knowledge of one or more foreign languages and this is possible at
CLIRO – the Inter-University Linguistic Centre of Romagna. The Centre offers a wide range of advanced linguistic services and laboratories to all students wishing to improve their linguistic skills.
Studying does not exclude the possibility of carrying out work activities. Actually, it is quite a different matter. With the university reform, work has effectively become an integral part of the academic curriculum through the introduction of traineeship periods during the university studies. At the same time, there are many students who simply need a job to earn their living or to cut themselves loose from their family! In any of these circumstances, working while studying is not so easy, though it is possible to do it in different ways. The University offers to all students the opportunity of carrying out a work experience within its structures, through a part-time work activity (of 150 hours) or, alternatively, through an annual program within the National Civil Service Plan. Yet, if you are more interested in traineeship activities, the opportunities are certainly numerous, both in Italy and abroad. For further details, students must turn to the office of
Servizio Tirocini e Relazioni Internazionali, located in
Via Rasi e Spinelli 194. In consideration of the scientific and technological vocation of the University Faculties in Cesena, the services and incentives offered to students, graduates and teachers for the creation of new enterprises and technological transfers are also of particular importance.
For example, those students who have just concluded their studies or are graduating and have not a clear idea of their professional future may apply to the CE.TRANS – the Centre for the Transition to Job and on Job, which supplies advanced services of professional guidance and job-oriented training within the job market.
To look for a job offer, in addition to the numerous local temporary job agencies and to the selection and training agencies, students may turn to the CPI – the Centre for Employment, which has replaced the old employment office. The CPI provides workers with information about unemployment benefits, services, traineeships, etc. Likewise, the Informagiovani is useful for young people looking for job opportunities. In its offices, students may consult electronic databases and the available job offers.