The University of Insubria (Italian: Università degli Studi dell'Insubria) is an Italian university located in Como and Varese, with secondary locations in Busto Arsizio and Saronno. It was founded in 1998, it has been named after the area where it is situated, the historical-geographical region of Insubria.
The Faculty of Law in Como has passed from the 9th to the 6th place in the CENSIS 2010/2011 Faculty of Law table. In 2013 the Faculty of Law was ranked 7th place nationally, with a rating of "AAA", within the list drawn up by the "Great University Guide" prepared by the newspaper La Repubblica, in collaboration with Censis (was in 4th place in 2011 and the 6th place in 2010).
History and profile
Basilica of Sant'Abbondio cloister, home of the Department of Law, Economics and Cultures of Insubria University
The University of Insubria, which includes two main sites, in Como and in Varese, was incorporated on 14 July 1998, but the institution which thus became a university had earlier origins.
In 1972, a University Centre had been established in Varese as an extension of the Faculty of Medicine of University of Pavia followed in 1990 by an extension of the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences and of the Faculty of Economics of the University of Milan.
In 1989, a University Centre had been established in Como as an extension of the Engineering Faculty of the Politecnico di Milano university and of the Faculty of Mathematical, Physical and Natural Sciences of the University of Milan.
In Como, during the fifteenth century at the College of Chartered Jurisconsults, there was a University School with three chairs: Moral Theology (active since 1473), Mixed Canon Law (founded in 1656 by Thomas Verga) and Institutions (founded in 1656 by Francesco Benzi). This university remained active until the year 1795.[2]
Since 1989 indeed Como has been the centre for regular degree courses in Engineering which were arisen precisely from Politecnico of Milan as well as in Science and since 1994 in Law, which originated from the University of Milan.
In the frame of Governmental reform designed to solve the problems of overcrowded universities in Italy, plans were made to establish new universities, some of which had to include a network of sites.
In 1996–1997, the Osservatorio Nazionale, the Italian national office for the assessment of the university system, visited the facilities in the university sites in Como and Varese, where other Faculties had been opened in the meantime and suggested that a new university featuring an organisation based on two Delegacies should be opened.
In Italy, this was one of the first proposals aimed at establishing a university network.
The new University of Insubria is in a large centre of population and has close cultural and academic relationships with the Universities of Milan and Pavia, upon which it is based, as well as with the other Universities in the Insubria territory, including the Canton Ticino (Switzerland).
The University of Insubria acquired full status on 14 July 1998. The newly established University, which is anchored to the traditions of the Insubria territory is the first example of a network-based organisation as suggested by the Osservatorio Nazionale in its assessment of the Italian University system.
The University of Insubria implied a radical change in the local historical development, which was socially and economically expensive because the territory was organised as a suburb of the city of Milan, and horizontal connections were inadequate for the population's growing needs. Today more than 7,000 students no longer commute between Varese and Milan or Como and Milan.
Sites
Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (DBSV) at the University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
Overall, Insubria University counts two main sites, educational facilities and laboratories in different locations of the Lombard territory.
The two main institutional sites are actually Como and Varese.
According to the Statute, laid down on 11 March 2002, the two sites just mentioned have equal dignity: the university ensures equal development, harmonic and fair, encouraging common initiatives and the integration of both the didactic and research activities.
Of particular historic and artistic interest should be surely noticed the Cloister of the Basilica of Sant'Abbondio in Como (among the oldest in Europe and used at first as a convent, then as an Episcopal Seminary), already home of the Faculty of Law, now of the Department of Law, Economics and Cultures (DEC), the most prestigious centre of the entire University, and the Palazzo Natta, ancient palace of a noble family belonging to the aristocracy of Como dating back to the sixteenth century, with details dating back even to the thirteenth century, headquarters of the rectorate.
Engineering for Work and Environment Safety, VARESE
Environmental and Natural Sciences, VARESE
Linguistic and Cultural Mediation, COMO
Physics, COMO
Mathematics, COMO
Movement science, SARONNO
Tourism Management, COMO
Undergraduate programs in the healthcare professions (3 years)
Professional education, VARESE
Physiotherapy, VARESE
Dental Hygiene, VARESE
Nursing, VARESE, COMO
Midwifery, VARESE
Cardiocirculatory and Cardiovascular Perfusion techniques, VARESE
Biomedical Laboratory techniques, VARESE
Imaging and Radiotherapy techniques, VARESE
Master's Degree Courses (2 years)
BioMedical Sciences, BUSTO ARSIZIO (Double Degree with The University of Applied Sciences, Bonn-Rhein-Sieg)
Computer science, VARESE
Chemistry, COMO
Environmental Sciences, COMO
Environmental Sciences, COMO
Economics, Finance and Business Law, VARESE
Global entrepreneurship economics and management (GEEM), VARESE (made in English)
Mathematics, COMO
Molecular and industrial biotechnology, VARESE (Double Degree with the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague)
Physics, COMO
Science and Technical Communication, VARESE
Degree courses in unique cycle (6 years)
Law, VARESE, COMO
Medicine and Surgery, VARESE
School of Dentistry, VARESE
Organisation
Since faculties in Italy have been abolished, departments (that usually managed research) have taken up faculties' didactic duties.
The current departments (as of 2014) are the following:
Dipartimento di biotecnologie e scienze della vita - DBSV
Dipartimento di diritto, economia e culture - DiDEC
Dipartimento di economia - DiECO
Dipartimento di medicina clinica e sperimentale - DMCS
Dipartimento di scienza e alta tecnologia - DISAT
Dipartimento di scienze chirurgiche e morfologiche - DSCM
Dipartimento di scienze teoriche e applicate - DISTA
Dipartimento di scienze umane per l'innovazione del territorio - DISUIT
