SDG 10 – Reduced inequalities

Università IULM maintains a comprehensive admissions policy that is entirely non-discriminatory, guaranteeing equal access to all applicants regardless of gender, age, disability, ethnic origin, nationality, religion, political beliefs, socio-economic background, or sexual orientation. The policy is publicly posted as detailed below.

This principle is formally enshrined in the University Statute, reaffirmed in the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, and operationalized through the Admissions Regulation (approved by the Academic Senate on 28 October 2024). The regulation explicitly establishes that admissions are based on fairness and equal opportunity, with targeted accommodations for different categories of students:

• Gender Equality: The Equal Opportunities Committee, the IULM Gender Equality Plan, and targeted scholarships promote access for women across all programmes.
• Refugees and International Students: IULM has signed the UNHCR Manifesto for Inclusive Universities and provides full scholarships, housing, and meals for refugee students (e.g., from Ukraine, Afghanistan, Syria). The Admissions Regulation includes tailored procedures for foreign diplomas and access to Italian and English-taught programmes.
• Low-income and First-generation Students: Through regional grants, tuition waivers, and institutional scholarships, IULM ensures that students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds can access higher education regardless of financial circumstances.
• Students with Disabilities and DSA: Candidates with disabilities, DSA, ADHD, or autism are guaranteed compensatory and dispensative measures in admission tests, such as extended time, adapted assessments, and technological support. The DiversaMENTE Office manages these requests and provides continuous academic support, complemented by dedicated scholarships.

The Admissions Regulation also ensures flexibility of assessment: for example, language placement tests include additional time for students with disabilities, oral alternatives for beginners, and exemptions for those with certified competences. Where gaps are identified, students are admitted with additional learning requirements rather than excluded, ensuring equitable opportunity for all applicants.

Finally, the IULM Code of Ethics (Art. 3) reinforces the institutional commitment to non-discrimination, explicitly prohibiting all forms of direct and indirect discrimination and mandating respect for human rights and dignity.

Through this formal and publicly available framework, IULM guarantees that admissions are fair, inclusive, and free from discrimination, ensuring that students of all backgrounds — regardless of gender, socio-economic status, nationality, disability, or refugee condition — have equal opportunity to access higher education.

Università IULM systematically tracks and measures applications, admissions, enrolments, and graduation rates of all underrepresented and potentially underrepresented groups. This tracking includes:

• Low-income and first-generation students
• Women and gender balance (monitored through the IULM Gender Equality Plan)
• Students with disabilities and Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), supported by the DiversaMENTE Office
• Alias career students (confidential identity protection), tracked for the first time in 2024; These students have the possibility to activate an "Alias identity," that is, to use, within the University, an identity different from the registry identity: the ultimate goal is to ensure those who do not recognize themselves in the gender associated with their biological sex the possibility to see their gender identity recognized
• Non-traditional students (aged over 30), tracked for the first time in 2024
• International students from developing countries
• Refugee and asylum-seeking students, with nationality breakdown included from 2024

These data are formally reported annually and are used to design and implement targeted inclusion measures in line with the Strategic Plan 2025–2027, ensuring equal opportunities at all stages of the academic career.

Low-income students

	Total number of students	Male	Female	% of female	Difference from 2023
Students receiving financial aid	876	164	712	81%	+6%
Students paying the first rate	779	141	638	82%	-10%
Students enrolled in 2024 paying the first rate	322	60	262	81%	+8%
Graduates paying the first rate	194	31	163	84%	+13%

Gender balance

 

	Total number of students	Male	Female	% of female	Difference from 2023
Students	8573	1931	6642	77%	+2%
Applicants	4873	1159	3714	76%	-0,8%
Students starting a degree	2193	491	1702	78%	-5%
Undergraduate	6693	1460	5233	78%	+2%
Postgraduate	1880	445	1409	75%	+1%
Graduates	2827	624	2203	78%	+11%
First-generation students	1160	249	911	79%	-9%
Students on internships abroad	117	26	91	78%	New data
Students on internships in Italy	1317	293	1024	78%	New data
Exchange students inbound	330	40	290	88%	New data
Exchange students outbound	363	76	287	79%	New data

Students with Disability and SLD

 

	Total number of students	Male	Female	% of female	Difference from 2023
Students with disability	114	35	79	69%	+13%
Students with SLD	516	135	381	74%	+13%

Alias students (new tracking, 2023/2024)

In the academic year 2023/2024 IULM registered 6 Alias students

Non-traditional students (new tracking, 2023/2024)

	Total number of students	Male	Female	% of female
Non-traditional students  (over 30) undergraduate	46	15	31	67%
Non-traditional students (over 30) postgraduate	21	5	16	76%

Refugee students and international students from developing countries

 

Category	Total	Male	Female	% Female
Refugee students	19	5	14	74%

 

Category	Total	Male	Female	% Female
Students from developing countries	118	37	81	67%

Università IULM takes planned, structured actions to recruit students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented and disadvantaged groups, in alignment with its Strategic Plan 2025–2027, the IULM Gender Equality Plan, and the IULM Code of Ethics.

Refugees

Università IULM has signed the UNHCR Manifesto for Inclusive Universities, a program committed to the active recruitment and integration of refugee and asylum-seeking students and staff. Dedicated scholarships, full tuition waivers, housing and meals, and targeted mentoring programmes are provided to students from conflict areas. These actions are reinforced by international mobility support, language assistance, and integration activities. Recruitment of academic staff with refugee or migrant backgrounds is encouraged through open calls and international partnerships.

Women

Università IULM promotes the recruitment and career advancement of women across all roles. Currently, women represent more than 75% of the student body, of whom 80% are first-generation students.

For students, targeted scholarships, tuition reductions, and part-time enrolment schemes support access for women, especially mothers and those from low-income backgrounds.

For staff and faculty, the IULM Gender Equality Plan sets explicit targets to ensure gender balance in recruitment committees and to counteract stereotypes in career progression.

Università IULM has adopted comprehensive maternity and parenthood policies, aligned with Italian legislation (D.Lgs. 151/2001 and subsequent amendments), offering full maternity and paternity leave, pregnancy protection through smart working, and flexible work arrangements.

To reconcile family and career, the University provides on-campus Nursery for staff and students, reduced-fee agreements with nurseries and bilingual schools, conventions with healthcare and mobility providers, and counseling programmes. For student parents, specific scholarships, tutoring, and Erasmus+ mobility support ensure continuity of academic careers.

Low-income and first-generation students

Università IULM actively recruits students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds by offering:

• Scholarships, tuition waivers, and dedicated IULM grants.
• Part-time enrolment schemes to facilitate work–study balance.
• Outreach programmes in schools to engage first-generation applicants.
• Access to conventions reducing costs for housing, healthcare, mobility, and cultural participation, thereby lowering barriers to enrolment.

Students and staff with disabilities

Università IULM ensures inclusive recruitment of students with disabilities through the DiversaMENTE Office, a dedicated institutional service that accompanies students from admission to graduation. The Office manages compensatory and dispensative measures for admission tests, provides assistive technologies, and offers personalized tutoring and counseling. Dedicated scholarships are made available each year for students with disabilities and specific learning disorders (SLD).

At staff level, Università IULM records a significant proportion of employees with disabilities and implements a wide range of measures to ensure accessibility and career inclusion. These include the possibility of smart working, part-time flexible schedules, workplace adaptations, and wellbeing programmes, in full compliance with Italian law on employment inclusion.

Additional protections for staff with disabilities:

• The IULM employment contract guarantees that employees with disabilities have the right to part-time arrangements and smart working.
• Employees with severe disabilities are entitled to paid leave (three days per month or two hours per day).
• Family members who care for a person with severe disability are entitled to extraordinary paid leave with full social security coverage.
• All staff benefit from an institutional welfare scheme, which can be used to cover medical expenses and other essential needs, further reducing inequalities and supporting quality of life.

Università IULM has adopted a comprehensive and strict anti-discrimination framework, fully aligned with international standards and its institutional commitment to equity and inclusion.

The IULM Code of Ethics establishes that all members of the University community must act according to three fundamental principles: fairness and justice, respect for others, and personal and professional responsibility. Article 3 explicitly prohibits discrimination on the basis of age, race, gender, disability, religion, sexual orientation, political belief, or ethnic origin. Article 4 further condemns all forms of harassment, including sexual harassment, defining it as unwanted physical contact, verbal abuse of a sexual nature, or any other form of coercion. Violence, aggression, and abuse of any kind are not tolerated.

To ensure that these principles are translated into action, Università IULM has established the Equal Opportunities Committee, a joint high-level body with representation from faculty, technical-administrative staff, and students. The Committee is tasked with promoting and guaranteeing equal opportunities, preventing discrimination and harassment, and fostering organizational wellbeing within the academic community. In March 2024, Gioia Belloni was appointed as the new student representative. Her mandate reinforces the University’s commitment to listening to and protecting the interests of the student body in all matters concerning equality and inclusion.

The Committee is particularly engaged in promoting initiatives to counter gender discrimination, consistent with the IULM Gender Equality Plan, which sets targeted measures to promote gender balance in recruitment, support career progression, and dismantle stereotypes.

At governance level, Università IULM has also introduced dedicated Proxies of the Rector to strengthen leadership accountability in inclusion policies:

• Proxy to Inclusion and Disability and Psychological Counseling, ensuring equal access, psychological wellbeing, and tailored support for students and staff with disabilities;
• Proxy to Equal Opportunity and Right to Study, safeguarding fair access to education and equal treatment across the entire student body.

Together, these policies and structures embody Università IULM’s determination to guarantee a safe, inclusive, and discrimination-free environment for all members of its academic community — students, faculty, and staff alike.

Università IULM has a diversity and equality committee, office, and officers tasked by the administration to advise on and implement policies, programmes, and trainings related to diversity, equity, inclusion, social responsibility, and human rights on campus.

• Diversity Committees
  • Equal Opportunities Committee: A high-level joint body representing faculty, staff, and students, responsible for promoting and guaranteeing equal opportunities across the University. In March 2024, a new student representative, Gioia Belloni, was appointed, strengthening student participation in the Committee’s activities. Its mission is to prevent all forms of discrimination and to foster organizational wellbeing for the entire community.
  • Sustainability Committee: A governance body with a mandate that goes beyond environmental issues, addressing sustainability in its broadest sense. It integrates social responsibility, equity, and inclusion as fundamental aspects of Università IULM’s sustainability agenda.
• Diversity Office
  • IULM DiversaMENTE Office: The University’s dedicated Diversity and Inclusion Office, providing support to students with disabilities, specific learning disorders (SLD), ADHD, and other special educational needs. The Office ensures the provision of compensatory/dispensative measures, manages dedicated scholarships, and accompanies students throughout their academic path to guarantee full participation in university life.
• Diversity  Officers
  • Rector’s Proxies (Diversity and Equality Officers): Università IULM has appointed three high-level officers tasked with advancing inclusion and equality:
    • Proxy to Inclusion and Disability and Psychological Counseling, ensuring equal access, psychological wellbeing, and tailored support for students and staff with disabilities;
    • Proxy to Equal Opportunity and Right to Study, safeguarding fair access to education and equal treatment across the student body;
    • Proxy to Sustainability and Social Responsibility, embedding diversity, equity, and inclusion into the broader sustainability strategy and strengthening the University’s social impact.

Through this integrated system of committees, offices, and officers, Università IULM ensures that diversity, equality, and inclusion are systematically promoted, monitored, and implemented across all dimensions of academic and professional life.

 

Università IULM provides a comprehensive system of mentoring, counselling, and peer support programmes to ensure that students, staff, and faculty from underrepresented and potentially underrepresented groups are fully supported in their academic, professional, and personal development. These programmes cover women, refugee students, students with disabilities or special educational needs, LGBTQ+ members, low-income students, and staff.

• Women: Università IULM provides women’s mentoring schemes and tailored support programmes as part of the IULM Gender Equality Plan, which identifies mentoring and psychological support as a cornerstone of women’s empowerment. In 2023/2024:
  • 85% of students engaged in peer mentoring schemes were women.
  • 78% of participants in counselling opportunities were women.
  • 80% of participants in mental health and wellbeing programmes (such as  Orienta-menti, Seminars on Study Methods, Stress Management, and Expectations, and Seminars about a stress-free graduation) were women.
  • Overall, 18% of the women student population took part in mentoring schemes.
  • In 2024, IULM reinforced its support through partnerships with the Anti-Violence Center Cerchi d’Acqua, offering psychological, legal, and financial support for women among students and staff who have experienced abuse or violence, and with Ankyra, supporting victims of domestic or relational violence regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.
• Refugee students: Refugee and displaced students benefit from dedicated mentoring and tutoring coordinated by the International Mobility and Recruitment Office. Each student is assigned a staff tutor who provides continuous support with enrolment, cultural integration, and access to scholarships and services, ensuring equal participation in university life.
• Students with disabilities and special educational needs: The DiversaMENTE Office provides one-to-one counselling, dedicated interviews, and tailored academic support for students with disabilities, DSA, ADHD, and autism. The Office organizes seminars on stress management, study strategies, and concept mapping, specifically designed for students with learning disorders, and ensures compensatory/dispensative measures during assessments and examinations.
• Peer mentoring schemes: Università IULM runs a Peer Tutors programme, where senior students mentor first-year or disadvantaged peers, offering academic guidance, study strategies, and social integration. These schemes particularly benefit women, low-income, first-generation, and international students.
• Staff and faculty: Università IULM provides a free and confidential Psychological Support Service, in partnership with the Centro Diagnostico Italiano (CDI). Managed by a senior clinical psychologist, the service addresses work-related and personal wellbeing issues and is frequently used by underrepresented groups, including women, staff with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ personnel.

Through these structured, multi-level mentoring and counselling services, Università IULM guarantees that all members of its academic community – students, staff, and faculty – can access tailored support programmes, enabling them to overcome barriers and fully benefit from university life.

Università IULM is deeply committed to providing accessible facilities and services for people with disabilities, ensuring that every individual can fully participate in academic, cultural, and social life. This commitment is grounded in the University’s institutional principles of equality, inclusivity, and non-discrimination, and is implemented through continuous investment in infrastructure, services, and cultural initiatives.

• Accessible campus and services: The university provides barrier-free facilities across its campus, including accessible entrances, dedicated restrooms, lifts, and parking. Special spaces are available in classrooms and libraries for students in wheelchairs, and four fully equipped units in the IULM Residence are reserved for students with disabilities. Mobility orientation courses are offered for blind and visually impaired students. Importantly, all campus signage is also written in braille, ensuring full accessibility for students, staff, and visitors with visual impairments.
• Assistive technologies and academic adjustments: Students benefit from assistive technologies, tailored examination conditions, and compensatory or dispensative measures to ensure equal participation. The DiversaMENTE Office  coordinates one-to-one interviews, counselling sessions, peer tutoring, and specialised seminars (stress management, study methods, concept mapping) for students with disabilities, DSA, ADHD, and autism spectrum disorders.
• Institutional and cultural inclusion: Università IULM ensures accessibility not only in teaching and services but also in cultural programming. Italian Sign Language (LIS) is regularly used during major events, guaranteeing access for the deaf community. A flagship example is the multimedia theatre project “Family Game VR” (November 2024), hosted at the IULM Studios. The production combined virtual reality and live theatre, specifically designed for audiences with deafness. Accessibility measures included subtitles, an accessible-format programme booklet, and LIS subtitled videos. The initiative was coordinated by the International Center for Research on Collaborative Translation in collaboration with Centro EURESIS, KIT Italia, Fondazione Gualandi, and the Istituto dei Sordi di Torino.
• Equal Opportunities Committee: The Committee plays a crucial role in promoting disability inclusion and countering discrimination across all dimensions of campus life. It represents faculty, staff, and students, and ensures that the needs of people with disabilities are systematically addressed at institutional level.

Through these initiatives, Università IULM demonstrates its ongoing commitment to building an inclusive, accessible, and barrier-free campus, where students, staff, faculty, and visitors with disabilities can thrive. The combination of infrastructure, specialised services, and cultural innovation underlines IULM’s holistic approach to disability inclusion.

Università IULM is fully committed to providing institutionalised and personalised support services for people with disabilities and specific learning disorders (DSA/ADHD), ensuring their equal access to education, research, and campus life. These services are embedded in the IULM Disability and Inclusion Policy, which explicitly commits the University to eliminating barriers and providing tailored academic, technological, and psychological support.

1. Admissions and Orientation

• During the admissions process, applicants with disabilities or SLD can formally request compensatory and dispensatory measures for entrance examinations.
• Incoming students are assisted through personalised orientation programmes that support degree course selection, administrative procedures, and adaptation to university life.

2. Academic Support and Tutoring

• The DiversaMENTE Office acts as the institutional hub for disability services, coordinating:
  • Peer tutoring schemes, where senior students support students with disabilities in exam preparation and study organisation.
  • Individual mediation with faculty, ensuring accessible teaching and tailored examination conditions. DiversaMENTE office also trains IULM faculty on how to approach disabled, SLD and ADHD students regarding the lessons, the exams and study method.
  • Courses on study methods and stress management, including targeted seminars for students with SLD and ADHD (e.g. “Concept mapping workshops”, “Stress-free graduation”, “Anxiety management”)
• Accessible digital texts and assistive technologies are provided upon request.

3. Psychological Support

• Università IULM provides dedicated psychological counselling for students with disabilities through individual sessions with professional psychologists.
• In addition, small-group seminars are organised to address issues such as anxiety, self-esteem, and study strategies.

4. International Mobility

• The Erasmus+ Programme, in which IULM participates, allocates special mobility grants for students with disabilities, covering extra costs (accommodation, equipment, personal assistance, travel). Università IULM guarantees equal participation by supporting all applications requiring such funding.

5. Internships and Job Placement

• In collaboration with the Career Service, DiversaMENTE supports students in accessing internships compatible with their needs, and in preparing for interviews and contractual agreements.
• Graduates benefit from placement opportunities dedicated to protected categories, as required by Italian law, ensuring real inclusion in the labour market.

6. Financial Aid and Scholarships

Università IULM guarantees comprehensive financial support measures for students with disabilities, including full tuition exemption for students with a disability ≥66% and a wide range of scholarships and awards designed to reduce economic barriers and promote academic success.

The main categories include:

• “Misure per il sostegno degli studenti universitari con disabilità gravissima” (2025/2026, D.M. MUR n. 455/2025)
  For the allocation of lump-sum care allowances (assegni di cura) as contributions towards the cost of qualified personnel assisting students during lessons.
• Borse di Studio “Elsa Pigoli Zucchi”
  3 scholarships awarded to students with physical disabilities, including 1 reserved for university students, aimed at supporting young people in disadvantaged economic conditions.
• Premi di Laurea in memoria di Antonio e Luigi Goi e Angela De Giacomi Goi e Premio di Laurea in memoria di Alessio Buttarelli
  4 awards for graduates with disabilities, funded by Fondazione della Comunità Bresciana and the Buttarelli family, ranging from €200 to €2,500.
• Fondazione Macciachini Monti Scholarships (2023/24)
  7 annual scholarships of €9,000 each for deserving students with sensory disabilities (vision, hearing), neuromotor disabilities, or neurodiversity (DSA, ADHD, Autism Spectrum Disorders).
• Fondazione Villa Mirabello Onlus Scholarships
  8 scholarships (4 of €2,000 and 4 of €1,000) dedicated to young blind or visually impaired students to support higher education and music conservatory studies.

7. Accessible Campus and Housing

• The IULM campus is fully barrier-free, with accessible entrances, restrooms, lifts, classrooms, library areas, and parking.
  All campus signage is written in braille, ensuring navigation for visually impaired students.
• The IULM Residence provides 4 specially equipped units for students with disabilities, including adapted bathrooms, internet, and climate control.
• Mobility orientation courses for blind students are regularly offered to support campus navigation.

8. Staff with disabilities

• IULM employment contract guarantees staff with disabilities the right to part-time and smart-working arrangements, facilitating inclusion and reducing work-related barriers.
• Employees with severe disabilities are entitled to paid leave (three days per month or two hours per day).
• Family members caring for a person with severe disability have access to extraordinary paid leave with full social security coverage.
• All staff benefit from a welfare scheme, which can be used to cover medical expenses and other essential needs.

Università IULM is fully committed to providing access schemes for people with disabilities through institutionalised and personalised support services for students with disabilities and specific learning disorders (SLD/ADHD), with the strategic objective of ensuring their equal access to education, reducing barriers to participation, and minimising drop-out rates. These initiatives are embedded in the IULM Disability and Inclusion Policy, which explicitly commits the University to eliminate structural, technological, and social barriers.

1. Admissions and Orientation

• Applicants with disabilities or DSA can formally request compensatory and dispensatory measures for entrance examinations.
• Incoming students are supported through tailored orientation programmes to facilitate their transition into university life, including guidance on course choice, administrative procedures, and use of support services.

2. Academic Support and Tutoring

The DiversaMENTE Office acts as the institutional hub for inclusion services, coordinating:

• Peer tutoring schemes (Master’s students supporting students with disabilities in exam preparation and study strategies).
• Individual mediation with faculty, ensuring inclusive teaching and personalised assessment conditions.
• Training for faculty on how to approach students with disabilities, DSA, and ADHD in teaching and evaluation.
• Courses on study methods and stress management, including specialised seminars such as Concept Mapping Workshops, Stress-free Graduation, and Anxiety Management.
• Accessible digital texts and assistive technologies are provided upon request.

3. Psychological Support

• Dedicated counselling services provide individual and group psychological sessions for students with disabilities.
• Special programmes focus on stress management, self-esteem, and anxiety reduction.

4. International Mobility

• Through Erasmus+ and other mobility schemes, in which IULM participates, students with disabilities are eligible for dedicated funding to cover additional costs such as personal assistance, specialised accommodation, or adapted learning materials.
• Università IULM actively supports and monitors applications to ensure equal participation in international exchanges.

5. Internships and Job Placement

• In collaboration with the Career Service, DiversaMENTE ensures that students with disabilities have access to tailored internships and specific placement opportunities for protected categories, as mandated by Italian law.
• Support is extended to refugees, orphans, and victims of terrorism, broadening the scope of inclusion in the job market.

6. Financial Aid and Scholarships

Università IULM guarantees comprehensive financial measures to reduce economic barriers and support academic persistence:

• “Misure per il sostegno degli studenti universitari con disabilità gravissima” (2025/2026, D.M. MUR n. 455/2025): allocation of assegni di cura to cover costs of qualified personnel assisting students during lessons.
• Borse di Studio “Elsa Pigoli Zucchi”: 3 scholarships (including 1 for university students) for young people with physical disabilities from disadvantaged economic backgrounds.
• Premi di Laurea in memoria di Antonio e Luigi Goi e Angela De Giacomi Goi e Premio in memoria di Alessio Buttarelli: 4 awards (€200–€2,500) for graduates with disabilities.
• Fondazione Macciachini Monti Scholarships (2023/24): 7 annual scholarships of €9,000 for students with sensory/neuromotor disabilities or neurodiversity (DSA, ADHD, Autism).
• Fondazione Villa Mirabello Onlus Scholarships: 8 scholarships (4 × €2,000 and 4 × €1,000) for blind or visually impaired students pursuing higher education or music studies.
• Tuition exemption: students with ≥66% disability are entitled to full exemption from university fees.

7. Accessible Campus and Housing

• The campus is fully barrier-free, with accessible entrances, restrooms, lifts, parking, and reserved spaces in classrooms and libraries.
• All signage across campus is written in braille, ensuring independent navigation for visually impaired students.
• The IULM Residence includes 4 adapted units with internet access, climate control, and accessible bathrooms.
• Mobility orientation courses for blind students are regularly offered to memorise campus routes and facilitate autonomy.

8. Staff with disabilities

Università IULM extends its inclusion policies to employees:

• The IULM employment contract guarantees staff with disabilities the right to part-time and smart-working arrangements.
• Employees with severe disabilities are entitled to paid leave (three days per month or two hours per day).
• Family members caring for a person with severe disability have access to extraordinary paid leave with full social security coverage.
• All staff benefit from a welfare scheme, which can be used to cover medical expenses and other essential needs.

9. Impact and Drop-out Monitoring

Università IULM systematically monitors enrolment, progression, and drop-out rates of students with disabilities and DSA to evaluate the impact of its policies.

Dropout of students with disabilities (1st → 2nd year)

 

Enrollment year	a.a. 2020/21	a.a. 2021/22	a.a. 2022/23	a.a. 2023/24
Dropout between the first and the second year	6	3	1	2
Total of students with disability enrolled in the first year	22	26	22	31
%	27,3%	11,5%	4,5%	6,5%

Dropout of students with SLD (1st → 2nd year)

Enrollment year	a.a. 2020/21	a.a. 2021/22	a.a. 2022/23	a.a. 2023/24
Dropout between the first and the second year	24	17	13	24
Total of students with SLD enrolled in the first year	142	157	121	172
%	16,9%	10,8%	10,7%	14,0%

In 2023/24, 651 students with disabilities, DSA, ADHD, or special educational needs were enrolled, representing 8% of the student population.

These results demonstrate that Università IULM’s structured, personalised, and well-funded services are effective in reducing inequalities, sustaining academic success, and promoting the full inclusion of students with disabilities throughout their university careers.

Università IULM has adopted a formal Reasonable Accommodation Policy for persons with disabilities, including adequately funded mechanism for persons with disability, ensuring equal access to education, campus life, and employment opportunities. The policy, implemented by the DiversaMENTE Office, guarantees tailored measures that remove or reduce barriers and ote the full participation of students with disabilities, SLD, ADHD, and other special educational needs.

1. Academic Accommodation

• ● Admissions: Applicants with disabilities or DSA can formally request compensatory and dispensatory measures for entrance examinations.
• ● Orientation: Incoming students receive personalised orientation programmes to guide course selection, administrative procedures, and initial integration.
• ● Study support:

• Provision of assistive technologies and digital texts.
• Peer tutoring schemes with Master’s students supporting students with disabilities in exam preparation.
•  Faculty mediation and training, ensuring inclusive teaching methods and assessment.
• Seminars on study methods and stress management, specifically designed for students with DSA and ADHD (e.g. Concept Mapping, Stress-free Graduation, Anxiety Management).

2. Psychological and Emotional Accommodation

• ● Università IULM provides psychological counselling services, offering individual and small-group sessions to support wellbeing and prevent drop-out.
• ● The FlessibilMente programme addresses issues such as anxiety, stress, and self-esteem.
• ● Mobility orientation courses for blind students facilitate independent navigation of campus routes.

3. International Mobility

• ● Students with disabilities can access special Erasmus+ mobility grants, in which IULM participates. covering additional costs (special accommodation, personal assistance, medical support, adapted learning materials).
• ● Università IULM actively supports all applications to ensure full participation in international exchanges.

4. Employment-related Accommodation

The DiversaMENTE Office, in collaboration with the Career Service, assists students with disabilities in:

• ● Securing accessible internships aligned with their needs.
• ●  Preparing for interviews and contracts
• ● Accessing protected category placement opportunities after graduation
• ●  Special support is also offered to refugees, orphans, and victims of terrorism.

5. Financial Accommodation

• Tuition exemption: Full exemption for students with a disability ≥66%.
• Scholarships and awards include:

• “Misure per il sostegno degli studenti universitari con disabilità gravissima” (2025/26, D.M. MUR n. 455/2025): Assegni di cura to cover the cost of qualified assistants during lessons.
• Borse di Studio “Elsa Pigoli Zucchi”: 3 scholarships, including 1 for university students with physical disabilities in disadvantaged conditions.
• Premi di Laurea in memoria di Antonio e Luigi Goi, Angela De Giacomi Goi e Alessio Buttarelli: 4 awards for graduates with disabilities (€200–€2,500).
• Fondazione Macciachini Monti Scholarships (2023/24): 7 annual scholarships of €9,000 for students with sensory/neuromotor disabilities or neurodiversity (DSA, ADHD, Autism).
• Fondazione Villa Mirabello Onlus Scholarships: 8 scholarships (4 × €2,000 and 4 × €1,000) for blind or visually impaired students.

6. Physical Accommodation

• Università IULM is committed to maintaining a fully barrier-free campus, with accessible entrances, lifts, restrooms, classrooms, library areas, and dedicated parking.
• All campus signage is written in braille, ensuring accessibility for visually impaired students.
• The IULM Residence includes 4 fully adapted units with accessible bathrooms, internet access, and climate control.

7. Work Accommodation

Università IULM extends its Reasonable Accommodation Policy also to staff with disabilities. Measures include:

• The IULM employment contract guarantees staff with disabilities the right to part-time and smart-working arrangements, ensuring flexibility and inclusion in daily work life.
• Staff with disabilities are entitled to paid leave: three days per month ( divisible into hours) or two hours per day.
• Family members who assist a person with severe disability are entitled to extraordinary paid leave with full contribution coverage, in line with national legislation.
• All employees benefit from a corporate welfare scheme, which can be used to cover medical expenses or other essential needs.

Università IULM has adopted a formal Anti-Harassment and Gender-Based Violence Policy, embedded in its institutional framework and publicly accessible through two key documents:

• The IULM Code of Ethics, which explicitly bans all forms of harassment, abuse, and violence, including sexual harassment, verbal aggression, and discrimination based on gender, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or political opinion. Article 4 provides a comprehensive definition of harassment and its manifestations.
• The IULM Gender Equality Plan, which dedicates an entire area (Area 4) to the prevention of harassment and gender-based violence, and to the promotion of a safe, respectful, and inclusive learning and working environment.

1. Institutional Structures and Implementation

• The Equal Opportunities Committee, representing students, staff, and faculty, is responsible for monitoring and addressing cases of harassment or discrimination, and for promoting awareness campaigns and preventive actions. In March 2024, a new student representative (Gioia Belloni) was appointed, strengthening the student voice in harassment-prevention initiatives.
• The Rector’s Proxy to Equal Opportunity and Right to Study and the Rector’s Proxy to Inclusion and Disability and Psychological Counseling ensure institutional accountability, providing students and staff with dedicated reference points to report incidents and receive support.

2. External Partnerships and Support Services

• Since 2024, Università IULM has established a structured collaboration with the Anti-Violence Center Cerchi d’Acqua. This partnership provides confidential and professional support to women and men in the IULM community who experience abuse, mistreatment, sexual harassment, or stalking. The services include:
  • Welcome interviews and personalised case assessment.
  • Psychological support and psychotherapy.
  • Legal counselling and assistance.
  • Employment guidance and financial education to foster independence.
• IULM also collaborates with Ankyra Association, which supports victims of domestic and relational violence regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.

3. Prevention and Awareness

• Università IULM organises seminars, workshops, and public events on harassment prevention, gender equality, and respectful campus culture, often in collaboration with external organisations.
• Campaigns include information sessions on recognising and reporting harassment, training for staff and faculty, and awareness events linked to the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and International Women’s Day.