Adnkronos (Adnkronos) – "Talent must be supported, and first and foremost identified, because what I see in young people is that they're often unaware of their talents." This was stated by Marta Cartabia, Vice Rector for Social Engagement and Institutional Affairs at Bocconi University, speaking about the MeMo – Merit and Social Mobility project, the career guidance program for students whose parents don't have a degree. During the final day of Merita, the conference took place this morning at the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa.
"The purpose of projects like these," Cartabia added, "is first and foremost to encourage people to look in the mirror, recognize their own potential, and support it." For Cartabia, the barriers to university access today are both economic and cultural and motivational. "I would say both," he responded to the question of what the main obstacle is. "Inequalities today are profound, they are worsening, and the costs are increasing.
Today, a new barrier has come upon the younger generations, which is that of having a little low self-confidence, of not believing in themselves."
"Talent," Cartabia explained, "must be discovered and supported both financially and motivationally." This support, according to the Pro-Rector, can come primarily from peers: "One of MeMo's hallmarks is that the first step is to reach out to the local community, reaching out to young people, especially those less inclined to pursue university studies, and doing so through the voices of their peers."
The goal of the agreement, Cartabia added, is to make MeMo "as broad a network as possible across the country," increasing universities' ability to reach students as early as the fourth year of high school. "Each university institution that joins contributes in terms of reaching these students and achieving greater coverage," he emphasized.
Regarding Bocconi, Cartabia noted that, alongside its selectivity and commitment to excellence, there exists "a more hidden aspect" of the university, represented by "a close attention to student challenges, accessibility, and support for students who encounter difficulties, even during their studies." The project, he concluded, stems from the desire to network these experiences to enable young people to fully develop their potential.
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