H.E. Mr. Pierfrancesco Sacco, new Ambassador of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Croatia, visited the University of Rijeka Rectorate on Friday, February 21, 2020. The Ambassador was accompanied by his partner Mrs. Laura Fernandez Serch, along with Mr. Davide Bradanini, new Consul General of the Italian Republic to the Republic of Croatia, Rijeka, and Ms. Ileana Jančić, Consul General’s Assistant.
The distinguished guests were welcomed by Prof. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, Ph.D., UNIRI Rector, Prof. Ines Srdoč-Konestra, Ph.D., Dean of the UNIRI Faculty of Humanities and Social Studies, Prof. Corinna Gerbaz Giuliano, Ph.D., Head of the Department of Italian Language and Literature at the UNIRI Faculty of Humanities and Social Studies, and Ms. Nina Kolaković, Rector’s Office/IRO.
Madam Rector Prijić-Samaržija briefly presented the University of Rijeka, emphasizing the successful cooperation with the Embassy of the Italian Republic in Croatia and the Consulate General of the Italian Republic in Rijeka. Madam Rector also mentioned that UNIRI recently joined the YUFE Alliance, which allows the University to cooperate with other YUFE members, namely the Tor Vergata University of Rome.
Dean Srdoč-Konestra and Prof. Gerbaz Giuliano pointed out that the Department of Italian Language and Literature, as one of the youngest departments at the Faculty of Humanities and Social Studies, despite being established in 2011, already has very strong cooperative and friendly relations with the universities of Padua, Trieste, Turin, Reggio Calabria, and Bari, thus allowing the students to apply for various scholarship tenders, courses in Italy and student exchanges.
Ambassador Sacco stated that Croatia and Italy are connected by common, global problems such as climate change, economic and social problems and the shortage of young, educated people, emphasizing that these issues can serve as a basis for stronger strategic partnerships within the European Union and international initiatives.
Madam Rector Prijić-Samaržija and Ambassador Sacco agreed that 2020 might be an excellent start for joint cultural and scientific projects, bearing in mind that Rijeka proudly holds the title of the European Capital of Culture, while Trieste is this year’s European City of Science.
