Università di Urbino
Meet the coordinator Partner: Università degli Studi di Urbino Carlo Bo
UNIURB: Leading the Digital Transformation in Education
The University of Urbino Carlo Bo is the coordinating institution of the START DS – Digital Skills Transformation project, driving research and innovation in digital education, student well-being, and technology use in schools.
Established in 1506, the University of Urbino Carlo Bo (UNIURB) is one of the most ancient Universities in Europe. It is located in one of the most important Renaissance cities in central Italy, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1998. Since 2003, the University is entitled to the Italian poet and scholar “Carlo Bo”, who was the University’s rector from 1947 to 2001, and promoted a strong and intertwined relationship between the city of Urbino and its University.
Given their high number, compared to the resident population, the 15.500 students enrolled in the University of Urbino are true protagonists in the life of this small city, which becomes, then, a young and lively environment both inside and outside the academic institution, offering a unique opportunity to live an intense learning experience. Students have access to a number of facilities, libraries, documentary services and laboratories, a Linguistic Centre (CLA), supplying Language classes to both students and staff, and a Teaching and Learning centre (CISDEL), providing support for study, teaching and research activities.
The Institution is organised in six Departments, supervising and organising research within the University:
– Department of Economics, Society, Politics (DESP);
– Department of Humanities (DISTUM);
– Department of Communication Sciences, Humanities and International Studies (DISCUI);
– Department of Law (DiGiur);
– Department of Biomolecular Sciences (DISB);
– Department of Pure and Applied Sciences (DiSPeA).
UNIURB offers 51 Undergraduate and Postgraduate courses (BA; MA/MPhil; PhD): the Academic programmes range from Law, Economics and Political Sciences to Social Sciences, Humanities, Educational Sciences; from Biology to Biotechnology, Pharmacy and Sports Sciences; from Physics to Mathematics and Informatics; from Environmental Sciences to Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage. Master’s courses and “Specialisation Schools” aim at providing postgraduate students with specific knowledge and professional skills.
Activities, experiences, skills and expertise
Education, research and knowledge and innovation transfer are the University’s main purposes.
Department of Economics, Society, Politics (DESP) at Urbino University demonstrates the university’s commitment to addressing societal transformations. Department keeps and addresses a plurality of expertise – Economics, Sociology, Philosophy, Psychology, Politics, Law and International Law – in correspondent research fields in social sciences and promotes interventions in educational contexts. Department cooperates with schools at all levels, social welfare centres, psychological support institutions, foundations and other organizations that support children and their families, and has a practice of establishing courses, training and workshops tailored to the needs of all participants in the educational context.
The project aligns with DESP’s objectives. The project reflects DESP’s commitment to excellence in research and social sciences by addressing the urgent need for interdisciplinary training. The emphasis on collaboration between professional groups is consistent with DESP’s commitment to fostering an inclusive environment.
UNIURB STAFF:
✅ Coordinate all project activities across multiple European partners
✅ Research digital habits to help students use technology wisely
✅ Support teachers and principals with training on smartphone integration in education
✅ Develop tools like Dear-IO for self-reflection and digital trust-building
With their expertise in cyberpsychology and digital learning, Urbino University is helping to shape the future of education!
📍 https://www.facebook.com/uniurbit
📍 https://www.linkedin.com/school/uniurbit/
📍 Website: https://www.uniurb.it/
STAFF:
Maria Gabriella Pediconi – Researcher of Dynamic Psychology at the University of Urbino – Department of Economics and Political Society; Professor of Dynamic Psychology in the degree course of Psychological Sciences and Techniques and Professor of Clinical Psychology in the degree course in Sociology and Social Service at the University of Urbino.
She conducts research on the psycho-pedagogical consequences of Pandemic and aspects of education, on the impact of Artificial Intelligence on the user’s affective engagement and satisfaction through qualitative research. She programmed and conducted for a long time some projects for continued traineeship of teachers of schools at all levels; for students with special needs and Principals about the institutional management of consequences of bullism and cyber-bullism.
Michela Brunori – Clinical Psychologist; member of the research group in Dynamic Psychology of the University of Urbino – Department of Economics, Society, Politics. Master in school psychology. She developed an expertise in social media for adolescents and improved the knowledge about AI and the effects of chatbots on adolescents’ personality. She is conducting a project about the construction of online digital trust and a project about school distress and dropout through mentoring activities. Her competence in teens at risk of schooling dropout, cyber-bullying and psychological disease helps the staff in analyzing phenomena and projecting transformative interventions.
Savino Romani – Psychologist, Professor of Social Psychology at the degree course in Sociology and Social Service – University of Urbino – Department of Economics, Society, Politics. Master in school psychology. He participated in many projects of dynamic psychology staff, developing a specific expertise in school psychology. He is a Honorary Judge of the Juvenile Court of Marche Region, Italy. His competence in teens’ psychopathology, cyber-bullism and psychological disease helps the staff in analyzing fenomena and projecting transformative interventions.
Giulia Mascini – Clinical Psychologist; member of the research group in Dynamic Psychology of the University of Urbino – Department of Economics, Society, Politics. She developed an expertise in social media for adolescents, studying in particular the platform of TikTok.