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Two Unitus students awarded the “America Giovani Award”

Dr. Talìa Bianchi and Dr. Alessandra Gazzella Furfaro, graduates respectively in Law and Languages ​​at the University of Tuscia (a.y. 2022/2023), Department of Linguistic-Literary, Historical-Philosophical and Legal Studies (DISTU), are among the newly graduated individuals awarded the America Giovani Prize for university talent, promoted by the Italy USA Foundation. The award ceremony took place on January 29, 2024, at the Hall of Parliamentary Groups of the Chamber of Deputies in Rome.

The initiative aims to enhance young talents in the national territory, supporting them with a full scholarship for the Executive Master’s in “Leadership for International Relations and Made in Italy.” Selection is based on the databases of Italian universities according to criteria such as the graduation score, age at graduation, average exam scores, and study plan in areas of interest to the Foundation. The Italy USA Foundation is part of the United Nations Academic Impact network, the UNAI program – United Nations Academic Impact, launched by the UN Secretary-General in 2010. UNAI therefore accompanies its logo with that of the Foundation on the Master’s diploma.

The two young laureates are enthusiastic about their experience following the award ceremony.

Dr. Alessandra Gazzella Furfaro: “My experience with the Master’s is very positive. There is a growing interest in the topics covered in the first modules. Certainly, from the Leadership module, many insights can be drawn on being a good leader, such as how to manage one’s work in a group without dominating others; it highlights the fact that a good leader needs all the help of his collaborators in a relationship of mutual respect and esteem. Also, very important are the testimonies of illustrious figures such as former athlete Valentina Vezzali, diplomat and professor Emilio Iodice, entrepreneur Vincenza Frasca, and many others. The opportunity offered by this master’s is remarkable and should be seized without a second thought, also because there is no possibility of self-candidacy in any way to participate.”

Dr. Talia Bianchi: “I think it is of fundamental importance to note a data related to the award ceremony regarding the percentage of female students compared to men. And indeed, the 72% of participants are female. This is a fundamental point in a society that, despite the multiple developments in various aspects, still struggles to fully bring out female talent. This element confirms the total impartiality of the selection criteria for participants, which aims to reward only merit and one’s own study path. The master can be an opportunity for high-level training and comparison that enriches each participant both personally and culturally.” As stated on the Italy USA Foundation’s website, the master’s “is a 12-month high-level specialization course, with a teaching method structured in direct lessons and active applicative didactics represented by the project work. An excellent business card for the world of work, created in collaboration with a prestigious international teaching panel of over 35 professors. It is aimed at first and second level graduates, or students who will obtain the degree by the end of the master’s, who want to direct their future towards leadership in international relations. It combines the teaching of specialized skills with the formation of a global mindset and an intrinsically international vision, providing a methodology for growth and at the same time the ‘toolbox’ to put it into practice. It offers a solid and updated body of knowledge, organic and transversal, to develop analytical skills with an international dimension and immediately applicable to any work context. It aims to build an approach to multidisciplinary knowledge that can be applied in public and private companies, multinational corporations, government or intergovernmental administrations, international organizations, startups, and small-medium-sized innovative enterprises.