Cooperation and international mobility between Italy and East Asia

The results of the LEGO project - Italy-East Asia Cooperation: From Local Expertise to a Global Outlook, funded under the NRRP, Mission 4, as a TNE (Transnational Education) project, were presented. Launched in 2024, LEGO aims to strengthen cooperation in the field of international mobility and education between Italian and East Asian universities, promoting the educational and scientific excellence of each partner and synergizing them to increase their impact at both international and local levels.

The project involved 12 Italian universities, led by Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, and 133 Asian partners from 12 countries (China, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mongolia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, the Philippines, and Hong Kong).

Building upon the specific competencies of each partner, the project developed initiatives across three key disciplinary areas:

• Languages and Cultures
• Science and Technology for Sustainability
• Management and Economics for Society

The main activities included outgoing and incoming mobility of students, PhD candidates, faculty and staff; the development of Double Joint Degrees (DJDs); and the implementation of high-impact advanced training programs. The project also included the organization of labs and workshops featuring innovative teaching techniques, as well as the exchange of best practices and expertise.

In this context, Politecnico di Milano carried out initiatives in the fields of architecture, design, and engineering in collaboration with 10 partners from 4 different countries: China, Japan, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Thanks to the mobility program, 20 international students came to Politecnico, and 21 polytechnic students were able to study at Asian universities for a semester, broadening their specialized and intercultural skills. Female participation was particularly significant: 13 female students came to Politecnico from Asia, and 9 female students participated in the outgoing mobility program.

Faculty mobility made it possible to deepen shared research areas and exchange best practices, also with a focus on engagement with industry and local contexts. Over the two years of project, 7 faculty members traveled from Asia to Milan, and 9 faculty members from Politecnico undertook one-month visits: they participated in intensive teaching activities, including lectures, seminars, and workshops.