We welcomed Dr Francesco Bongarrà, Director of the Italian Cultural Institute in London, and Mr Gabriele Magagnin, Italian Consul General (Manchester), to celebrate and strengthen our longstanding ties with Italy. We marked our strong international profile and our deep and enduring connections with Italian institutions, underpinned by close collaborations with the Italian Cultural Institute in London since 2015.
The visit brought together leading figures from across the University's Arts and Humanities community. Guests met with Professor Janet Stewart, Executive Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Humanities; Dr Luca Malici, Assistant Professor & Director of Italian Studies in the School of Modern Languages and Cultures; Dr George Gazis, Associate Professor in Greek Literature and Philosophy, Deputy Head of Department. The visit included a visit to Durham Cathedral and Castle UNESCO World Heritage Site.
A well-attended panel discussion with guest panellists, Dr Francesco Bongarrà, Professor Ita Mac Carthy (Professor of Italian and Director of the Institute of Medieval and Early Modern Studies), Professor Katrin Wehling-Giorgi (Professor of Italian and Co-Director of the Institute for Medical Humanities) and Simon Litchfield, Deputy Head of Global Opportunities and Experience, International Office rounded out the visit. We explored how universities and cultural institutions can work together to deepen engagement with Italian language and culture, foster interdisciplinary collaboration, and create new opportunities for students, researchers, and the wider public.
Arts and Humanities
Durham is internationally recognised for its excellence in the Arts and Humanities. We are world-leading in Classics and frequently ranked among the top three UK universities for Italian Studies. We have student exchange agreements with over 10 Italian institutions, with Durham welcoming around 100 Italian students every year. We are also closely partnered with leading Italian universities via the Coimbra Group and ARQUS European Alliance.
The event reflected our continued commitment to international engagement in Arts and Humanities, through our distinctive Transformative Humanities approach and our ambition to further strengthen our deep cultural and academic ties with European partners.
