Provide expert advice to government

Università IULM actively provides specific expert advice to local, regional, national, and international government bodies, through policy guidance, participation in committees, and provision of evidence, contributing to the formulation of public policies and institutional strategies on sustainability, intercultural communication, digital governance, and education.

Strategic partnerships and collaborations with public institutions demonstrate IULM’s ongoing commitment to policy dialogue and evidence-based governance.

International and national partnerships:

• FAO – Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations: IULM collaborates with FAO on education and communication for sustainable food systems. This includes joint research projects and the International Winter School on Food Safety, Sustainable Development and Behavioural Change, focusing on behavioural change communication for food security.
• UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development: Through its adherence to the Decade of the Sea Manifesto, IULM promotes policy awareness on ocean sustainability, supporting UN initiatives with events and workshops on ocean literacy and environmental governance.
• Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MAECI): IULM supports governmental internationalisation and cultural diplomacy initiatives through projects such as Invest Your Talent in Italy and the MAECI–MIUR–CRUI internship programmes, contributing to Italy’s global education and diplomacy strategies.

Engagement with government and public administrations:

• IULM collaborates periodically with the Municipality of Milan to provide input on student housing and urban development policies, contributing data and strategic analysis to inform local housing solutions and sustainable campus planning.
• The project “Interculturalità e Anagrafe”, developed with the Municipality of Milan – Civil Registry Office, provided training and guidelines for public officials to improve intercultural communication and citizen engagement in local administration.
• The Roundtables on Arabic Language Education in Italy (2024) gathered representatives from the Ministry of University and Research and regional school authorities to shape national strategies for linguistic inclusion.
• The European AI Act conference (2025) brought together European Parliament representatives, jurists, and academics to discuss Italy’s role in the implementation of the European Union Artificial Intelligence Act, highlighting IULM’s advisory role in digital ethics and governance.
• Through the Convention between IULM and the Carabinieri Corps, the University provides scientific and communication expertise to support institutional strategies on legality, security awareness, and ethical governance.
• In 2024, IULM hosted a regional policy roundtable with the Lombardy Regional Council and the Assessor for Innovation on Open Innovation and Territorial Competitiveness, providing academic input for regional innovation and research policies.
• The University’s active participation in the Milan Green Week positioned IULM as a knowledge partner for municipal sustainability policies, contributing to the city’s environmental governance agenda.

Policy dialogue through academic events:

• The conference “Green Deal: Actions and Innovations for Sustainability at the Local Level” a discussion addressing policy-makers about the implementation of the European Green Deal as a key EU strategy to tackle environmental challenges and advance the transition to a green economy.

• During the IULM Sustainability Week 2024, national and local policy-makers were invited to campus debates on climate policy, education for sustainability, and just transition.
• The webinar “Turismo e Clima” explored policy implications of climate change on the tourism sector, with representatives from regional authorities and environmental agencies.
• The conference “Young people, voting and the future”, organised by the IULM Student Council and national institutions at the Senate of the Republic, in Rome, promoted youth participation in democratic life and electoral education.
• The Italian Cuisine Week in the World – Seminar by Professor Vincenzo Russo in Oman involved IULM’s cooperation with the Italian Embassy in Muscat and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contributing to cultural diplomacy and public communication initiatives abroad.
• ​​The conference “Transizione 5.0: Governance, Impresa e Sostenibilità”, featuring IULM Rector Valentina Garavaglia and national policy-makers, contributed expert insights to the debate on Italy’s green and digital transition policies.
• Through research dissemination events such as “False ESG Narratives” and “Professioni della Sostenibilità”, IULM contributed to national discussions on ESG transparency, corporate ethics, and sustainability regulation.

Research-Based Policy Advice

In addition to institutional partnerships and events, Università IULM provides expert advice to public institutions through commissioned and competitive research projects (ricerca in conto terzi e competitiva).

Recent initiatives include Predisposizione questionari e analisi dei dati per la stima della domanda multimodale integrata AMT Trenitalia, Linee guida per lo sviluppo turistico della destinazione Luino, “SISS – Sustainable Innovation in Services”, and “AI Magister – Artificial Intelligence and Society (PNRR)”, developed in collaboration with national ministries, regional authorities, and public agencies to inform policies on digital transformation, inclusion, and circular economy.

Departmental research further supports public institutions through projects such as Dentro la permacrisis: un’analisi qualitativa della rappresentazione mediale del conflitto in medio oriente, GIG UP 2, Creatività urbana, eredità coloniale e politiche di patrimonializzazione in Africa Occidentale, Arte gratuita. Guida ai monumenti pubblici di Milano, and I valori della controcultura nell’era della deglobalizzazione. Una mappatura dell’impegno politico attraverso arti e media, addressing key policy issues such as digital democracy, cultural governance, and public communication ethics.

Through these collaborations, IULM positions itself as a trusted knowledge partner for policy-making, providing governments and institutions with research, communication expertise, and platforms for intercultural and sustainable dialogue.
The University’s active role in applied research and public consultation reinforces its contribution to evidence-based policy development at the local, regional, national, and international levels.