OUR PROGRAM
Studying is a right
We believe in a public, accessible, and free university. Every student has the right to study without economic or social barriers. That’s why we fight for guaranteed and properly funded scholarships, fairer tuition fees, and a system that leaves no one behind.
Access to education should not depend on income or luck; it must be a free and possible choice for all. After years of cuts, insufficient funding, and shortsighted policies, it’s time to change course: studying is not a privilege, it’s a right. And we want to make it a reality.
Guaranteed housing, meals, and healthcare
Studying also means being able to live with dignity. That’s why we ask for more public housing, free and accessible meal services, free transportation, and healthcare protection for all.
Today, too many people are forced to choose between the right to education and the costs of survival. Scholarships are not enough if affordable housing is lacking, a daily accessible meal is missing, efficient transportation is unavailable, and free healthcare is not provided. We demand a system of truly guaranteed services, everywhere and for all.
We want:
- More public university dormitories for students living away from home;
- Free or low-cost meal services, with extended hours, quality meals, and attention to diverse dietary needs;
- Free tampon dispensers, health prevention campaigns, and access to medical and basic consultation services on campus;
- Free public transportation for students with medium-low incomes, with enhanced routes and sustainable means of transport, even in the evening and on weekends.
- Real services, not symbolic ones: it’s time to build a university that puts the daily life of students at the center.
Protections for student workers
Studying and working should not be two conflicting paths. More and more students are balancing a job or caring for family members, yet universities still do not offer concrete tools to protect them.
We ask for the official recognition of student workers, caregivers, or pregnant students, with flexible exams, adaptable teaching, and justified absences for courses with mandatory attendance.
We want:
- To extend the part-time enrollment option to all, with personalized study plans;
- To introduce the possibility of agreeing on alternative exam dates based on work or care needs;
- To expand the offering of blended courses and reduce mandatory attendance for those with unavoidable daily commitments.
The right to education must be compatible with real life. No one should be forced to choose between working and studying.
Student-centered teaching
The university must speak the language of the present and create flexible, accessible, and truly inclusive educational paths. It’s time to move away from rigid teaching, the same for everyone, that ignores the needs of those who study, work, or have caregiving responsibilities.
We want:
- Freedom of choice in study plans, to create truly personal and multidisciplinary paths;
- Innovative and participatory teaching, with new methods, transfeminist and decolonial approaches, and more space for active learning;
- Quality asynchronous learning, designed specifically for those who cannot attend in person;
- Equitable access to the 60 CFU (university credits) required to teach, with affordable costs and support for those wishing to pursue a teaching career;
- An end to unpaid internships: all forms of work-based learning must be paid and protected.
A cultural revolution in teaching is needed, one that places students at the center as active subjects, not as passive users. Only then can universities train free, conscious individuals, ready to face a constantly changing world.
Safe university, always
Every person has the right to study in a space free from violence, harassment, and discrimination. Yet, universities are not always safe places: this is proven by news cases and the results of our survey “Your voice matters,” which was created after yet another case of harassment in academia.
At Unipd, we secured the opening of an anti-harassment support service, an important first step toward safety and listening. But it’s not enough.
We demand:
- Anti-violence support services in all universities, with psychological and legal support, in network with local centers;
- Mandatory training programs on consent, sexual and emotional education, aimed at students, professors, and technical-administrative staff;
- Truly inclusive spaces, where feeling safe is not an exception, but a guaranteed condition.
Safety is not a favor. It is a right, and it must be built with real tools, active listening, and a culture of respect.
Sustainable university
The climate crisis is real and urgent. Universities cannot lag behind: they must be part of the solution, not the problem.
We demand:
- Stop to agreements with polluting companies, starting with the energy sector;
- Transparency in funding and cooperation only with organizations that meet environmental and social criteria;
- Zero-impact universities, with investments in solar power, energy efficiency, and sustainable mobility;
- Mandatory courses on sustainability and the climate crisis, to educate conscious individuals ready to face the future;
- Concrete actions against waste and for an ecological and responsible university environment.
Universities must be places of real change, not just spaces where change is studied. It’s time to demand a truly sustainable university, in every aspect.
Studying without borders
Student mobility is a right, not a privilege. Programs like Erasmus+ enrich the university experience, but they must be accessible to all.
We demand:
An increase in Erasmus+ scholarships to fully cover expenses and make mobility accessible to those with lower incomes;
Concrete support for international students, with enhanced mobility offices and full assistance for both incoming and outgoing students;
Policies that promote mobility for all, without economic or social discrimination, including additional scholarships for students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The university must be a place without borders, where every student, regardless of origin, can grow and learn. We are active in Europe and around the world to defend the right to education and promote global solidarity among students.
Psychological well-being
Mental health is essential for quality education. Universities must commit concretely to protecting the psychological well-being of students by offering free, stable, and accessible psychological support at every university.
We demand:
The presence of expert figures at every university, with stable and guaranteed funding in university budgets, to avoid reliance on variable funds each year;
Structured and lasting psychological support, integrating university services with local resources, to make the service accessible to all students;
Recognition of mental health as a priority, with concrete investment to ensure psychological well-being, on par with physical health.
Mental health should not be a secondary issue but an integral part of the education system, so that every student can study, grow, and live in a healthy environment.
Internships yes, exploitation no
It is unacceptable that internships are used as a tool to obtain free or underpaid labor from companies, with the false promise that the experience is worth more than compensation. The work done during an internship must be recognized and appropriately remunerated.
We want laws that ensure fair compensation and dignified conditions for all interns.