Unirete Tor Vergata and Fondazione Mondo Digitale join forces for students
Innovation, digital awareness and active participation in university life. These are the pillars of the collaboration between Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Unirete Tor Vergata, the student association committed to bringing the academic experience closer to the concrete needs of those who live it every day. As part of the Villaggio Digitale project, thanks to their collaboration, we have launched a training course dedicated to students at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. We spoke to Miriam Calabrese, coordinator of the association, to reflect together on what it means today to build a “student-friendly university”.
Digital training and active participation
The course, co-designed with Unirete, touched on key issues of digital citizenship: content creation, digital storytelling, debunking and tools against disinformation, and online safety. Unirete promoted student participation by integrating these activities into the broader framework of an enriched, useful and future-oriented university education.
‘Although I did not participate personally, several members of our group did so with interest,’ says Miriam. ‘This type of initiative perfectly matches our mission: to offer students educational opportunities that go beyond the traditional curriculum.’
What is Unirete Tor Vergata
Unirete is a cross-disciplinary student association that operates in all departments of the university with the aim of representing, informing and activating the university community. In addition to institutional representation, the association organises cultural, technical and recreational activities, such as Excel courses and training projects with external partners. It also handles direct communication with students, conveying all useful information from the academic governance in an accessible manner.
Unirete is also part of Primavera degli Studenti, a national organisation that brings together various local groups active throughout the country.
‘Our goal is as simple as it is ambitious: to bring the university closer to how students would like to experience it,’ explains Miriam. ‘To do this, we need spaces for dialogue, shared planning, cross-disciplinary training and new forms of collaboration with the outside world.’
Who is Miriam Calabrese
Miriam is 24 years old, comes from the Morena district of Rome and is in her fifth year of medical school. She has been a member of Unirete for over three and a half years, where she has held the roles of organisation manager, deputy coordinator and, since February 2024, general coordinator. She is also a member of the university's Board of Directors. Her involvement stems from a desire to step outside her comfort zone: ‘I didn't want to limit myself to studying. I've always looked for different stimuli. Joining Unirete was a way to meet new people, challenge myself and give something back to the academic community.’
University, education and the world of work: a bridge yet to be built
According to Miriam, activities such as those offered by the Fondazione Mondo Digitale are essential tools for enriching a university experience that often remains too theoretical.
‘Many students arrive at university without even knowing how to use Word or Excel. Teachers take these skills for granted, but in reality they are often lacking. These courses serve to fill that gap.’
In an academic landscape that is still undergoing transformation, Unirete believes that the role of student associations is also to imagine a different university, tailored to students.
A collaboration that leaves its mark
The synergy between the Fondazione Mondo Digitale and Unirete Tor Vergata has proved to be a virtuous experience, capable of putting students at the centre and offering them concrete tools to face the challenges of the present and the future with greater awareness.
Villaggio Digitale is not just a project: it is a laboratory for active citizenship, skills and guidance. And every collaboration that arises in this space is a step closer to an education that prepares students for life, not just exams.
