A synergy between the International Movement "United to Unite" and The Association of Doctors of Foreign Origin in Italy (Amsi) and Welcome Association Italy (WAI) in support of foreign students and intercultural cooperation.
ROME APR 9, 2025 - A meeting of great strategic relevance took place yesterday in the Capital between two protagonists of the associational and intercultural world: Prof. Foad Aodi, a leading figure in interethnic dialogue and global health promotion, founder of the International Movement United to Unite and Amsi, and Carlo Palumbo, Deputy Secretary General of Welcome Association Italy (WAI), who has been active for years in the field of international student inclusion and cultural promotion.
A profound confrontation, which saw the two leaders consolidate an understanding based on common values and shared goals: the integration of foreign youth, the building of a more equitable and inclusive society, and the strengthening of relations between communities of origin and the Italian institutional fabric.
A double recognition to strengthen a common vision
At the meeting, Welcome Association Italy formalized the appointment of Prof. Foad Aodi as Representative for Multicultural Cooperation and Dialogue, entrusting him with a leadership role in strategies for intercultural openness. A choice that recognizes the value of his decades-long commitment to inclusive healthcare, the right to study and dialogue between peoples, cultures and religions.
At the same time, the United to Unite Movement, through its secretariat, announced the appointment of Carlo Palumbo as head of the International Students' Union Department, with confirmation of his role as the movement's Deputy Organizational Coordinator. An investiture that underscores Palumbo's experience in managing international association networks and organizing high-profile events with embassies, academic institutions and diplomatic bodies.
Statements: words that unite, visions that converge
"I welcome with great honor the nomination received from Welcome Association Italy, a reality that I esteem for its consistency and its concrete commitment to the new foreign generations in Italy," said Prof. Foad Aodi, Lecturer at the University of Tor Vergata, International Journalist and member of the FNOMCEO expert register. "Since 2000 we have been fighting to break down the barriers that hinder access to study, health and work. Young people represent the bridge between peoples, and today more than ever we have a duty to support them."
"I thank Prof. Aodi and the whole United to Unite Movement for the trust," said Carlo Palumbo. "This double appointment represents for me a responsibility and an additional motivation to continue, with even more determination, the work undertaken with Welcome Association Italy. We want to build real spaces for dialogue, involve students in institutions and network between associations and communities."
A common agenda for a more welcoming Italy
Among the topics addressed during the meeting, the groundwork was laid for:
- Tutoring and orientation programs for international students, particularly in the medical, cultural and language fields;
- Joint initiatives on rights, active citizenship and international women's leadership;
- Exchange activities with countries of origin through universities, hospitals and cultural institutes;
- Forums and panel discussions on multiculturalism and the role of migrant youth.
FOCUS - Foreign students: an alarming 60 percent drop since 2000.
A central moment of the meeting was devoted to the presentation of a joint survey conducted by AMSI (Association of Doctors of Foreign Origin in Italy) and the United to Unite Movement, which shows a significant loss of attractiveness of Italy as a training destination.
From 2000 to 2024, the number of foreign students enrolled in Italian universities decreased by 60 percent, from more than 70,000 to less than 30,000.
A figure that, in addition to raising questions about Italy's role as an international educational destination, entails a net loss in economic, cultural and strategic terms for the entire country system.
Why do students choose other countries?
The survey identifies five main factors that are contributing to the decline:
1. Excessive bureaucracy: difficulties in visa processes, residence permits, university enrollment, and recognition of foreign degrees.
2. Language barriers: lack of university courses in English or other international languages, which severely limits accessibility to non-Italian-speaking students.
3. Non-competitive educational offerings: Italy is still low on international rankings and does not offer academic mobility programs with the same guarantees as other European countries.
4. Poor financial support: compared to countries such as Germany, France or Canada, Italy provides a limited number of scholarships and incentives for non-EU students.
5. Lack of integrated reception services: from the difficulty in finding housing, to the absence of multilingual desks, to the poor psychological and cultural support network.
Alternatives preferred by international students
According to the survey, the countries that attracted the outflow from Italian universities are:
- Germany: thanks to the fact that most university courses are free of charge and a highly digitized and internationalized educational system.
- United Kingdom and the United States: despite their high costs, they attract because of the quality of the programs and the prestige of the universities.
- Canada and Australia: valued for inclusive migration policies, postgraduate employment opportunities and multicultural environment.
- France and Nordic countries: for English-language programs and support for cultural and social integration.
Italy can still turn things around
The message that emerges strongly from this analysis is that Italy has the potential to become an international education hub again. However, structural interventions are needed:
- Increase English-language or multilingual courses;
- Improve access to administrative services;
- Expand the scholarship and student housing system;
- Strengthen academic and cultural integration policies;
- To promote the image of Italy in the world as a welcoming, modern and dynamic country.
A pact for the future of the new generation
This synergy between Welcome Association Italy and the United to Unite Movement together with Amsi represents a virtuous model of cooperation between the associative world and institutional realities, capable of generating concrete impact on the lives of foreign students and on Italy's multicultural fabric.
Because behind every international student is a bridge between worlds, a future professional, a global citizen. And Italy, if it can take up this challenge, can once again become a leading player in the international educational scene.
JOINT PRESS OFFICE UNITED TO UNITE, WAI AND AMSI
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