April 5, 2016
“THE ITALIAN CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT”
At the end of November 2015, fully in line with the global commitment made by the United Nations with the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, the University of Rome Tor Vergata approved its new mission and vision in favor of sustainable development. This choice has a significant cultural relevance that places our University as a leader amongst Italian Universities (and not just) in supporting the realization of the 2030 Agenda.
Tor Vergata is committed to making the “sustainable development paradigm” central to all its activities, alongside the traditional missions typical of Italian Universities (i.e. education, research and the relationships with institutions and companies operating in their reference territories). Tor Vergata’s new mission and vision is also fully in line with the strategic directions developed by the Italian Rectors to build the “Universities of the future”.
At the University of Rome Tor Vergata, global governance challenges occupy a central position both in course curricula and in academic research. The University is at the forefront of the internationalization process of Italian academic institutions and is a leader in incorporating global perspectives into its work.
In this direction, Tor Vergata is launching a new initiative in the area of development and international collaboration: the Italian Centre for International Development – ICID.
ICID aims at promoting a better understanding of current and prospective development challenges, stimulating innovative research and offering evidenced-based support to policy design.
In the last 15 years Italy’s importance as a contributor to ODA (Official Development Assistance) has declined progressively, both in financial terms and in terms of intellectual leadership. But, in the face of geopolitical instability and growing global governance challenges, these are times for more, rather than less international presence. The golden age of a smooth convergence process between emerging and advanced economies might be over, at least for the foreseeable future.
It is in Italy’s strategic interest to reverse its recent pattern of disengagement from the international arena and to play a more prominent role in responding to the world’s political and economic challenges.
ICID is designed to support this effort by promoting state-of-the-art research and informed policy discussion on the development challenges facing the global community. The new Centre provides a platform for people to share ideas about international development and an instrument to help strengthen Italy’s role in the international development arena.
ICID is aimed at encouraging high-level research, spreading good ideas, and providing learning opportunities for university students as well as professionals. It contributes to the international debate on development by engaging multilateral and bilateral institutions in policy debates, and by providing analytical support to operations.
The Centre also helps nurture a new generation of Italians to take responsibilities inside national and international institutions. It provides a training ground for young researchers and aspiring development practitioners and supports them in the initial steps of their careers in the areas of development and international cooperation. ICID additionally provides advanced training to staff from Italian public and private institutions.