#USI25 - Alumni & Alumnae Reunion

Università della Svizzera italiana continues its lineup of celebrations to mark its 25th anniversary, this time with its more than 10,000 graduates. From 3 to 5 September 2021, USI Alumnae and Alumni have been invited back to Mendrisio and Lugano campuses (both online or in-person) to meet professors, classmates, attend a lecture, retrace the University's history and achievements, and share its development plans for the future. The number of registrations has already topped 500. Live streaming: https://www.usi25.usi.ch/it/momenti/alumni-alumnae-reunion/seguici-live.

The event is an opportunity to celebrate the first quarter of a century of USI and the alumni community. The three-day programme will be divided between both campuses of Mendrisio and Lugano. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, attendance in presence is limited, and it will be possible to follow all the academic sessions also via streaming. The various events will be held in Italian and/or English.

Friday, 3 September, starting at 6 pm, the institutional welcome will be held on Mendrisio Campus in the presence of:

• Monica Duca Widmer, President of the University Council
• Boas Erez, Rector of USI
• Walter Angonese, Director of the Academy of Architecture
• Riccardo Blumer, former Director of the Academy of Architecture

There will then be some moments of interaction dedicated to the role of women architects and the more than 2200 USI architecture alumni in contemporary society, with the participation of Jeremy Tenenbaum, on behalf of Denise Scott Brown, Architect and USI Doctor Honoris, and Mario Botta, Architect and Professor Emeritus of the Academy of Architecture, who will discuss the newborn Mendrisio Alumni Association. Afterwards, it will be possible to visit the new Teatro dell'architettura and its exhibitions before rounding off the evening with a speech by Samuele Cavadini, Mayor of Mendrisio, and a Networking Apéro.

Saturday, 4 September, starting at 2 pm, the institutional welcome will be held on Lugano East Campus in the presence of:

• Monica Duca Widmer, President of the University Council
• Boas Erez, Rettore of USI
• Julie Arlin, RSI, Journalist and USI Alumna 2016, moderator

World bouldering champion Petra Klingler will give the keynote address on a cross-cutting topic of interest to alumni from all USI Faculties: personal development and self-management, which are key elements for an athlete and a professional who has reached the highest levels of her discipline and has just represented Switzerland at the Tokyo Olympic Games. The keynote will be followed by a debate on Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence, and the event Facciamo conoscenza (in the double sense of Let's get to know each other/Shaping knowledge), where young researchers will dialogue on current topics before making way for a visit to the new East Campus. In addition, alumni and Alumnae will be able to participate in the thematic sessions of the five Faculties and the interactive session dedicated to Alumni Community Development. 

The event will continue with the award ceremony of the USI25 Love Story competition, which will award the most beautiful love story of the student community of this quarter of a century with a stay at the Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola in Lugano, and will end with the Networking Apéro Dinner. Finally, the evening will close with a series of short live concerts featuring USI Rector Boas Erez (on stage with the Scraps), some current USI students (Michelangelo Cavadini and Luigi Maglione, who will perform with Sun Over Waves) and a dj set with dj Architronic. On campus, it will also be possible to meet representatives of the 16 companies sponsoring the event, including Accenture Interactive, the main sponsor. 

Sunday, 5 September, the celebrations will "culminate" with a hike organised by USI's Sport Service on Monte Boglia.

For USI25 Alumni & Alumnae Reunion, the installation USI Vintage will also be unveiled: a real dive into the past, retracing through images, news, songs, films and much more, some of the most important years in the history of USI. The installation will accompany the academic community until December, at the end of the celebrations for the twenty-fifth anniversary.

• For the detailed programme, please visit www.usi25.usi.ch/en/moments/alumni-alumnae-reunion/programme
• Live streaming: https://www.usi25.usi.ch/it/momenti/alumni-alumnae-reunion/seguici-live

#USI25 #USIsU