Piano Lombardia, Sala: «43,5 million for digital tools and distance learning for universities»

Milano, 03 Novemberre 2020 - The allocation approved by the Regional Council, on the proposal of vice-president Fabrizio Sala, is 43,5 million, intended to support an innovation plan for digital instrumentation for distance learning and collaboration agreements with public universities in Lombardy.

This is foreseen by two resolutions that implement the Lombardy Plan, the strategic program created by the Lombardy Region to encourage economic recovery after the Coronavirus emergency.

The objective of the allocation is the modernization of the digital instrumentation in use at the Universities, as well as promoting distance learning both in response to the restrictions due to the recent COVID-19 pandemic and as a proposal for the evolution of teaching towards e-learning solutions.

In particular, the contributions are non-refundable equal to 100% of the expenses incurred for the purchase of equipment, digital instruments and technologies to encourage distance learning activities.

It will also be possible to recognize the expenses that the Universities have already incurred for this objective starting from 4 May 2020, the date on which the Lombardy Plan was approved.

The resources will be available to universities in 2021.

“A fundamental liquidity injection for our Universities in a context in which distance learning is increasingly important” comments vice-president Fabrizio Sala.

“Support that is part of the Lombardy Plan – explains the vice-president, who also holds the delegation to the University in the Regional Council – to help teachers and students with new innovative and quality equipment”.

“'Innovation and Research play an even more crucial role – adds the vice president – ​​thanks to the possibility of offering tools capable of responding in a concrete way to the challenges to be faced. A round of applause to our Universities who reacted with great promptness and effectiveness to the difficult moment we are going through."

Here, in detail, are the universities benefiting from the contribution (in millions of euros): University of Milano (9); Polytechnic of Milano (6,8); University Milano Bicocca (4,4); University of Pavia (4); University of Brescia (2,3); University of Bergamo (1,8); University of Insubria (1,5); University Institute of Higher Studies (IUSS) Pavia, 196 thousand euros.

13,5 MILLION FOR COLLABORATION AGREEMENTS

The objective of the allocation is the innovation of research infrastructures (equipment and/or structural interventions) existing at university bodies so that universities can develop research and innovation by overcoming the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 emergency.

Each university will receive a contribution of 1.687.500 euros.

The recipients are: University of Bergamo, University of Brescia, University of Insubria, University of Milano, University Milano Bicocca, Polytechnic of Milano, University of Pavia, University Institute of Higher Studies (IUSS) Pavia.

The Lombardy Region will therefore contribute, on a non-repayable basis, to the implementation of the interventions reported in the collaboration agreements with a maximum sum corresponding to 50% of the overall cost and in any case within the maximum limit of the resources foreseen for each institution.

UNIVERSITY OF MILAN

“With this funding, the Lombardy Region demonstrates great attention to Lombardy's universities, which without exception have reacted with great dedication and commitment to the complex situation created following the pandemic” comments the Rector of the University of Milano Elio Franzini.

“We will use these resources – he explains – to further expand the number of classrooms equipped for streaming, to strengthen information systems and to support all communication and service channels dedicated to students, whose information and orientation needs are this year exceptionally increased”.

POLITECNICO DI MILANO

“The Lombardy Region's investment is an important signal for the socio-economic recovery of the area and for the university system in particular. We start again from training and competence, from research and innovation as responses to the great transformations underway, first of all digitalisation" comments the Rector of the Polytechnic Ferruccio Resta.

“Not an investment that seeks to recover the past – he comments – but one that looks forward, to new proposals to rethink the role of the university as a physical and technological place. Hence a significant investment in new computerized classrooms that allow interactive teaching experiences, with external and international connections; for new digital laboratories also for disciplines that are not strictly technical-scientific, such as those designed for the faculty of architecture".

UNIVERSITY OF MILAN BICOCCA

"Milano-Bicocca with the funds of the Lombardy Plan – comments the Rector of the University Milano Bicocca Giovanna Iannantuoni – aims to strengthen live streaming systems for lessons and exercises in computer laboratories, a service that will be added to those already offered by the University.

'In all the classrooms on the Campus – he continues – technological equipment has been operational for some time which during the Coronavirus emergency made it possible to immediately guarantee distance learning. The interventions to be carried out with the funds provided by the Lombardy Region will therefore serve to strengthen and complete the University's offering of services for the digitalisation of teaching".

UNIVERSITY OF PAVIA

“The University of Pavia intends to enhance the computerization and multimedia of part of its classrooms to better support training activities” comments the Rector of the University of Pavia, Francesco Svelto.

“The interventions will be transversal to the different teaching areas and the different centers in which the University is divided – he explains – and will focus on the innovation of technological and infrastructural elements, both through the adaptation of the existing assets and by implementing already defined projects”.

UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF HIGHER STUDIES (IUSS) PAVIA

“We intend to strengthen and set up technological infrastructures for remote connectivity of the premises in the School headquarters and in the new secondary headquarters currently being prepared” comments the Rector of the University Institute of Higher Studies (IUSS) Pavia, Riccardo Pietrabissa.

“We will purchase IT equipment – ​​he explains – to support training needs and, more generally, remote connectivity and smart working activities necessary for the provision of university services in the context of the difficulties resulting from the ongoing pandemic” .

UNIVERSITY OF BRESCIA

“The University of Brescia intends to allocate the funds provided for by the Lombardy Plan to complete the fitting out of the classrooms with digital equipment to allow the remote transmission of lessons, seminars and exams” comments the Rector Maurizio Tira.

“A method that will also allow us to start new experiments and new international connections” he adds.

“The interventions envisaged by the Lombardy Plan – he continues – will also be useful to support our commitment in the implementation of the medical simulation project: an interactive training system, based on the use of innovative training means, inserted in the context of a realistic clinical scenario . The paths will allow the acquisition of certain skills to be brought forward with respect to entry into healthcare environments, which will be faced with a greater degree of awareness and preparation".

“Doctors in training at medical specialization schools will also be able to benefit from the advanced simulation courses – he concludes –, the number of which has significantly increased this year, with a consequent difficulty in training in healthcare facilities”.

UNIVERSITY OF BERGAMO

“The ambitious project on which the University of Bergamo is working involves the development, in the approximately 100 classrooms it has, of a multimedia presentation and collaboration system for the reproduction, recording and sharing of digital contents from a wide range of devices and platforms with integrated whiteboard functionality and network connectivity" comments the Rector of the University of Bergamo Remo Morzenti Pellegrini.

“The objective – he explains – is not only to address the emergency situation but to create a technologically advanced structure that can also respond in the near future to the qualitative needs that the students of such a growing university deserve to see satisfied. These are important investments that can also be made thanks to regional contributions."

UNIVERSITY OF INSUBRIA

“The objective of the project is to enhance digital technologies for distance learning and promote the adoption of a workflow that integrates these technologies with traditional teaching methods” comments the Rector of the University of Insubria Angelo Tagliabue.

“This strengthening – he explains – is essential to implement those teaching innovation processes aimed at enhancing traditional teaching through new methods of engagement that favor the inclusiveness and active participation of students both in presence and at a distance”.

“The project involves – he continues – both the technological enhancement of classrooms and distance learning support services and the establishment of a permanent laboratory for teaching innovation. The objective of the Laboratory will be to support teachers in the integration of digital technologies into traditional teaching, to discuss and experiment with new teaching methodologies, also involving secondary schools in the area"