Statistics from the Flemish Universities and Colleges Council (VLUHR) on the academic relations between Flanders and Italy show that there are more than 400 bilateral cooperative relationships between Flemish and Italian higher education institutions. These can be found at the level of the institutions themselves or at the faculty level. In this context, there is a great deal of student mobility and exchange between academic staff.
Therefore, Flanders would like to strengthen cooperation with Italian knowledge institutions, research, and innovation centers in line with the Rome European Higher Education Area and Bologna Process Communiqué (ehea.info). The focus will be on mobility, promoting Flemish scientific research and higher education, supporting chairs in Dutch-language studies, facilitating and reinforcing partnerships between knowledge institutions (e.g. via pilot projects with European Universities), actively involving Flemish knowledge institutions in the implementation of the general foreign policy of the Flemish Government, supporting alumni relations, and facilitating internships.
The Dutch language has a strong position in the Italian academic world. There are 6 chairs in Dutch-language studies:
- Università di Bologna, Bologna: University of Bologna (unibo.it),
- Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori Altiero Spinelli, Milaan: Alta… | Civica Scuola Interpreti e Traduttori Altiero Spinelli (fondazionemilano.eu),
- Università degli Studi di Napoli l'Orientale, Napoli: Università degli Studi di Napoli L'Orientale (unior.it),
- Università degli Studi di Padova, Padova: Università di Padova (unipd.it),
- Università degli Studi di Trieste, Triëste: Università degli studi di Trieste (units.it)
- Sapienza Università di Roma, Roma: Home | Sapienza Università di Roma (uniroma1.it)
The Diplomatic Representation of Flanders also works closely with the Dutch Language Union and the Dutch Embassy in Italy to support and promote the chairs through joint events.