When education saves lives


Abstract

Roma Tre University, which I have the honour of leading, has joined the UNICORE (University COrridors for REfugees) project for the third consecutive year. This initiative, promoted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, has enabled four refugee students to come to Rome to fulfil their dreams, with a further two due to arrive in the coming academic year. Roma Tre has also joined the CRUI’s IUPALS (Italian Universities for Palestinian Students) project, committing to fund scholarships for Palestinian students and ensuring, through the University Language Centre, that students receive language training. Thanks to this initiative, we have been able to welcome five Palestinian students. What follows is the extraordinary testimony of Serena Awad, one of our students, whom I asked to speak at the opening ceremony of the 2025/2026 academic year at Roma Tre University.