Core Values

At the heart of every university lies a clear set of values that guide its mission, shape its community and inspire its future. The following core values represent what our University stands for and what it seeks to achieve. They reflect our commitment to academic excellence, personal development and societal impact, and contribute to fostering a culture of integrity, excellence and innovation within an inclusive and forward-looking academic environment. 

• Multilingualism. The multilingual approach, with German, Italian, Ladin and English as official languages, is a central element in creating an open and inclusive academic environment. It is structurally embedded in study programmes: students enrolled in bachelor programmes attain high-level language proficiency by the time they graduate, achieving C1 level in the second language and at least B2 level in the third. By recognising the linguistic and cultural diversity of the region, the University acts as a bridge between communities, perspectives and traditions. This approach not only promotes intercultural communication but also connects the local context with global challenges and prepares students to succeed in an increasingly interconnected world. 
• Internationalisation. As a cornerstone of unibz, internationalisation strengthens both educational and research opportunities while remaining firmly rooted in the cultural context of the region. Located at the intersection of different linguistic communities and European cultures, unibz attracts students from Italy and abroad, including a significant number from outside the Province. 
  At the same time, the University actively promotes international mobility: many students earn part of their credits through exchange programmes at partner universities abroad. In this way, unibz builds global partnerships, attracts international talent and fosters the mobility of students and academic staff through exchange schemes. 
• Inclusion and Diversity. unibz ensures equal development opportunities for all members of its community. It is committed to creating a barrier-free environment in which knowledge is shared and accessible to all. This commitment is institutionally anchored through the Gender Equality Plan and a regularly produced Gender Report. 
• Sustainability. Guided by the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), unibz promotes sustainable development at both local and global level. It actively participates in international and national networks such as the Italian Rete delle Università per lo Sviluppo Sostenibile (RUS) and coordinates regional sustainability initiatives. In addition, the Competence Centres for Sustainability, for Sustainable Tourism and for Mountain Innovation Ecosystems make a substantial contribution to the implementation of these goals by addressing sustainability from diverse scientific and practice-oriented perspectives. 

Mission  

unibz builds bridges and brings together people from diverse social, cultural and linguistic backgrounds. 

With its student-centred philosophy, unibz places learners of all ages at the core of its teaching approach. Innovative and modern methods are tailored to students’ needs and complemented by an optimal student-to-staff ratio. This approach connects academic learning with practical application through methods such as problem-solving and self-directed learning, as well as through high-quality, well-equipped laboratories, and empowers graduates to meet labour market requirements and address societal challenges. 

unibz provides comprehensive multilingual support to ensure smooth academic pathways. This enables students to develop intercultural competences and language skills that are essential for their personal and professional growth and that they can transfer back into society. In addition, through its lifelong learning activities, unibz supports professionals in continuously updating and expanding their skills across different fields, in response to technological and societal change. 

unibz invests in excellent research across the full spectrum – from curiosity-driven research to practical application – through a dedicated internal research budget. The University supports researchers in acquiringthird-party funding and places a clear emphasis on the promotion of early-stage researchers. 
In today’s interconnected research landscape, unibz fosters international cooperation in order to achieve breakthrough insights, address global challenges and generate sustainable impact in science and society. 

Through effective technology transfer, for example through the exploitation of patents or the support of spin-offs founded by academic staff, unibz plays a central role in translating academic knowledge into sustainable impulses for the economy, society and culture of the region. It cooperates with innovation hubs such as the NOI Techpark to ensure the practical application of research results and to actively contribute to shaping the scientific, economic and social innovation ecosystem of the region and beyond. The Competence Centres make a substantial contribution through interdisciplinary and practice-oriented research with a strong regional focus.

Vision  

unibz envisions a community in which multilingualism is understood as an ongoing journey of learning and growth for students and teaching staff alike. The University will be internationally recognised for its balanced commitment to excellence in teaching and research, as well as for its engagement with society, the economy and policy-making, with the aim of fostering innovation, advancing knowledge and educating committed citizens of today and tomorrow. 

unibz is committed to developing a diverse and innovative educational offer ranging from degree programmes to professional and continuing education, including bachelor and master programmes, PhD programmes and executive education formats. Its teaching model combines modern methods and technologies that enable students to understand theory, apply knowledge and solve problems through critical thinking. In doing so, students are prepared to use their competences responsibly and effectively for the benefit of society. 

Excellent research forms the foundation for innovation, socially relevant knowledge, high-quality higher education and lifelong learning, the training of early-stage researchers and the continuous professional development of all staff members. unibz promotes the integration of research across all areas of its activities – in particular by recognising the central role of its academic staff in the advancement of knowledge. In this way, the University deliberately strengthens its positioning in national and international rankings. 

unibz fosters intensive academic and cultural dialogue with partner institutions at local, national and international level. It seeks to contribute to the development of the territory, to provide impetus for civil society and to further consolidate its already strong relationships with regional, national and international stakeholders. 

unibz pursues the vision of a multilingual, international and open campus committed to wellbeing and to respectful, non-violent communication within the university community. It guarantees equal opportunities, dignity and fair treatment for all students, researchers, lecturers and administrative staff, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, ethnic background, religion, age or socio-economic status. The University community strives to be inclusive, sustainable and safe – both in physical and virtual spaces. 

unibz promotes sustainable growth rooted in a lived culture of sustainability. This commitment is aligned with the development strategy of the United Nations 2030 Agenda, the priorities of EU Cohesion Policy 2021–2027, EU research and innovation policy, the European Strategy for Universities, the principles of the European Higher Education Area and the European University Association, as well as the strategic guidelines of national and European Next Generation plans.

 

Approved by the University Council on 06/02/2026.