![\"Donatella](\"https:\/\/coimacom-wp.ensoul.works\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coima-story-milano-e-davvero-una-citta-a-prova-di-studente-cardimg-345x455-2.jpg\"\n)
\n \n \n \n Donatella Sciuto said: “The number of public and private university residences in Italy is small and can host only five per cent of students, while in the Netherlands the figure is 30 per cent.<\/strong> This includes Milan, which has more than 200,000 students.<\/i> “Of these students, 48,000 attend the university I represent, which provides around 1,700 beds. With the opening in September 2023 of the new residence hall in Piazzale Ferrara, we will exceed 2,000 beds, and we plan to create an additional 1,000 in the short term. However, we are still far below what we actually need.”<\/i><\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n\n This need is being addressed with new real estate developments. These might be private developments but are built in agreement with the municipality and universities. One example is the largest student residence in Italy, developed by the Porta Romana Fund at the airport of the same name, which will house 1,700 beds. Those who cannot find accommodation in one of the approved facilities face a serious problem. Private housing is unaffordable for most students and their families, and university residences co-financed by the Ministry must reserve 60 per cent of the beds to deserving students by allocating scholarships.<\/strong> What about the others? They must spend around \u20ac1,000 a month living in tiny Milan flats.<\/p>\n <\/div>\n<\/div> <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n\n\n Prof. Sciuto<\/strong> said: “A person should have a net monthly salary of more than \u20ac3,000, considering that a rent of no more than 30 per cent of the net monthly salary is considered affordable.<\/strong> Here, PhD students get \u20ac1,200 and researchers about \u20ac1,500-2,000; even an associate professor does not receive \u20ac3,000 monthly, so none of these categories can afford the rent of a 50 square metre flat.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n In addition to the financial problem, there is a need to rethink city spaces for students and young people. Student residences can no longer resemble hotels but must be redesigned as an \u201caugmented student residence\u201d which can integrate into the urban fabric and local community, providing leisure services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Politecnico aims at making student residences inclusive places.<\/i> We realised it is necessary to design differently from the classic hotel room with a bathroom, desk and bed but more like a flat, perhaps with several rooms sharing a kitchen or a communal area. This has been partially implemented in the most recent structures.\u201d <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The critical step is converting traditional university residences into places co-managed by residents. <\/strong>Spaces for sharing and mixing, hosting people with different interests, including young entrepreneurs, startup founders, researchers and people coming to Milan to take advantage of growth and work opportunities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Rector said: “This would benefit students, who can contact those who have already finished university studies. Those who finished their studies can find young people willing to work on new projects. Today, this solution is impossible for residences under public administration, but it could be an option for the private sector.” <\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Universities have changed profoundly in recent years. They became more about life experience and not only education. When we talk about reception, it is crucial for students to feel directly involved in situations that go beyond food, accommodation and study. ![\"Construction](\"https:\/\/coimacom-wp.ensoul.works\/app\/uploads\/2023\/09\/coima-story-milano-e-davvero-una-citta-a-prova-di-studente-cardimg3-345x455-2.jpg\"\n)
\n \n \n \n
The residences and city fabric must become places of relations and socialisation.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n