Among the immigrants coming to Italy an increasing number are students
who come here in search of ‘new experiences’ and to receive a more valuable
education than they might in their countries of origin.
A recent study of foreign students attending Tuscan
universities conducted by the La Pira International Student Centre, which has
tracked education of young immigrants for decades, reveals that after the
University of Bologna, the University of Florence boasts the largest
international student body in Italy.
According to centre’s director, Maurizio Certini,
international students are a major part of the economic and cultural bridge
between Italy and their countries of origin, as well as a catalyst for
international relations.
The data reveals that international students in Italy
are mainly women (58 percent), mostly from the Balkans and Eastern Europe (61
percent), or Asia (20 percent; especially from China).
Students interviewed said they chose to study at the
University of Florence because the city was an ‘art and culture mecca.’
