Slovene, University of Ljubljana
The topics of my teaching are Macroeconomics, Environmental economics, Economics or culture, Philosophy of science and methodology, Institutional economics, Comparative analysis of economic systems.

I hold two classes at VIU in the school year 2020:

- Course No. 1: “Economics and management of art and culture”
- Course No. 2: “Global governance for peace and security, cooperation and development”

VIU experience was inspiring and challenging for me as a teacher since both of my classes were very heterogeneous. Students from under and postgraduate level, students from social and natural sciences, students from different socio-cultural backgrounds……...

Due to CODI19 situation teaching was conducted in all three forms (classical, on-line, dual one). This was challenging for both, for me as a teacher on one side and also for the students on the other. All these made my experience at VIU unique, interesting and enriching. Different in every/all aspects.

VIU is a network (consortium) of high quality academic institutions from more than 20 countries. VIU strongly promotes academic cooperation among partners in the network in order to facilitate an exchange of ideas and academic teaching in highly international context.

I believe that working together with experienced academic colleagues from all around the world, coming from different scientific communities and belonging to different schools of thought within is a true value added for every professor and also for wider VIU academic community. Interdisciplinary courses demand from us as professors to go with the curriculum beyond individual scientific disciplines in order to enable students to grasp and obtain knowledge which is required in today‘s globalized world. Therefore, I strongly believe that living and working in Venice can be really a unique experience for every professor.

Challenges of today’s word require from students deeper understanding of global challenges, as the need for sustainable development at the global level, global climate changes, global threats as financial crisis in 2008 (Big Recession) and pandemic in 2020 (COVID) in highly multicultural context and interconnected world. I believe that Globalization program tackles all these issues.

Programs at VIU bring together students from partner universities, the best and the most talented students. Students work, study and live with students from other cultures. During staying at VIU students also build their own social capital (network). Social capital is unlike other types of capital not embodied in individuals, but only in relations among them. The word "capital" means that relations students will built at VIU will have a value component, that can become a source of advantage in their further life and career.

Students can take courses which are away from their strict core field of study. Such a multicultural and plural environment enables students to combine insights from a range of different scientific disciplines as economics, political science, sociology, linguistic, culture, history etc. VIU combines interdisciplinary approach in highly multicultural context.

Classes were small so we could choose discussion topics in which students were highly interested. Students are invited to propose issues that have been raised in their country of origin or of their special interest. Tailored made approach was possible due to relatively small classes. Thinking out of the box is also always welcome at VIU. Thus, students will have a unique and intensive study experience at VIU.

Last but not least the city of Venice is a unique one. If you would like to study, work and live in an open museum than come to VIU.

24 years old, Russian
I'm a 1st year PhD candidate in art history at the European University at St. Petersburg

My university is part of the consortium of the Venice International University so thanks that I have got the opportunity to apply for the program. I aimed to enrich the scope of my research in the history of architecture, testify it in different academic circles. Moreover, In the Venetian libraries, there are a number of manuscripts, historical and ancient that I would have liked to see, study and analyze in order to deepen specifically the subject of my study plan

I think the foremost idea I got from the time at VIU is that there are no national, class or other limits, especially in the academic society. The courses I chose helped me to share my ideas, look at things more broadly from an academic perspective.

What can be better than good people and marvelous Venice? Right nothing, which is one of the main reasons to apply for a semester at VIU.

I want to become an interdisciplinary specialist in art and architecture history, working in a big European museum or university, or another place where I can realize my professional skills.

Apart from studying, I love a lot of things in everyday life, from running to baking, from plants to clothes, and life cannot be good without a good film or a TV series.

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Aleksandr Lemeshinskii was a recipient of an Erasmus+ grant while studying at VIU. 

Caudio Corradetti, Italian
Associate professor of political philosophy and international relations at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata”. My philosophical interests are oriented to the understanding of the interconnections between law and politics as well as the role of capitalism in society. I have been raised with the idea that interdisciplinary readings and reflections help the formulation of new and hopefully deeper views as well as increase the level of critical thinking.

My duty at VIU was to teach two courses, one on Global Governance and the other on a selection of classical texts of political philosophy. Both courses were for me very challenging, but in different ways.
In the first, whose long title was ‘Global Governance for Peace and Security, Cooperation and Development. At the Root of Cosmopolitan Constitutionalism’, I aimed at reconstructing the philosophical, political and legal development of the idea of a global governance, peace and justice among nations. In particular, I articulated conceptions for the emergence of a notion of global public authority and constitutionalism starting from the paradigm shift for new forms of authority conceptualizations. Students were asked to develop a critical approach and to reflect upon colonization processes, contemporary regional phenomena of constitutionalisation of multi-polities, as in the case of the European Union, and the relation between global wealth and authority. It was certainly an unusual course to offer to bachelor students but notwithstanding the demanding standard the students feedbacks were excellent.

The other course I offered was more of an introductory style. It attracted students with almost no background in philosophy. I remember a very talented Israeli student telling me right at the beginning: “I’m taking this course because I have never understood anything in philosophy!”. Eventually at the end he scored the highest grade. The course offered a detailed overview of the political philosophical development from ancient times to modernity. Lectures provided a selection of primary texts of classical authors accompanied by the support of secondary literature. Core topics included the definition of normative political thinking, as with the relation between morality and politics, morality and law as well as the role of individual and collective subjectivity. The course’s fil rouge was devoted to the capturing of the birth, development and decline of the State. This trajectory was analysed as part of a context of interstate relations, as with the arousal of the ius gentium as well as cosmopolitanism and/or liberal internationalist approaches. Organized around prominent key philosophers, the course has included a special section dedicated to the contemporary Italian political thought.

The choice to spend a semester at VIU was totally by chance. I did know about this programme and the membership of my university. One day I received a call of interest for filling-in a teaching at VIU and I applied, I found it was a great choice to make.
Venice and San Servolo are great places to stay both as a student and as a teacher. I had a great time meeting colleagues both local and international as well as students. There is a plenty of initiatives that are organized on weekly basis and which provide great opportunities for enjoying the beauty of the place. I’m still in contact and cooperate with some of the colleagues met there.

I believe that if you like experimenting yourself as a teacher in an international environment and if you are sensitive to the beauty of the contest then it would be harder to find reasons not to go. The VIU is for those who have an open-minded, progressive view of education and who like to meet people from a variety of backgrounds. Sometimes this is not an easy task, but it is certainly rewarding.

I found always a winning move to establish an empathy with students no matter whether they were Europeans, Africans, Asians etc. After all students from all over the world have similar expectations. They truly start from different background points, but organizing a course at VIU is to leave these differences in the back and to provide a new common starting point. This is not an easy task but of crucial importance.

I really enjoyed when with the class we decided to go in the garden around a long wooden table to have our lecture. It worked differently from usual and I believe it allowed a free way of thinking and doing philosophy.

Thanks to VIU, I also have the opportunity to go to Munich, Germany, to deliver a three-day seminar on my research on the cosmopolitan though by Kant. The place was somehow chosen by the topic I was researching on in those days. I wished to present my research to a German audience.

20 years old, from Serbia.
Second-year Bachelors's Degree student in Philosophy, International Studies, and Economics with minor studies in Sustainable Development at Collegio Internazionale Ca’ Foscari and Ca’ Foscari University of Venice. I have taken part in Globalization Program organized by VIU in Spring 2020, and 2021.

In order to challenge myself and be able to use my academic, interpersonal, and communication skills to capacity, I need an environment that will inspire me to act. Venice International University provides students with an opportunity to expand their worldviews and to suit themselves to completely different perspectives offered through courses, discussions, debates, and extracurricular activities. I have chosen to study at VIU because of these reasons and because VIU encourages students to get out of their comfort zone – making their study even more exciting! Being outside of my comfort zone makes me grow and develop new ways of thinking.

As someone who does not like limits and boundaries, the VIU experience was helpful in numerous ways. The approach that VIU has – showed me that there is nothing worse, nothing better – just different – and this perspective is a crucial thing in current times. My time at San Servolo has helped me understand different cultures, lifestyles, and aspects of living all around the world. Taking into account the myriad of cultures that I was exposed to during my studies at VIU and had the opportunity to foster my identities within, I can identify the needs of people from drastically different cultural backgrounds, without bias, eager to find a common language with anyone to give support, reach understanding, and nurture a mutually beneficial solution. As someone who wishes to work in the field of diplomacy and political communication, I am extremely grateful for a place like VIU.

VIU shows that there is much more to courses than just written material – during each and every of attended courses, I did not feel any burden regarding them – although it sounds cliché, one cannot but actively participate in diverse courses offered at this hub of cultural diversity – VIU! It is very nice to imagine that one can have the opportunity to pursue their university studies while being in one of the most unique cities in the world – each semester, the beautiful island of San Servolo turns into a global center for mutual study, inspiration, and innovation.

It was during my studies abroad that I found out that interaction between individuals and their environment is intriguing and complex. More specifically, this interest in me has developed in the direction of international relations, global issues, and politics. What are the role and significance of global diplomacy and endless economic measures imposed to carry out certain ideology and how does it impact the general public? This is the question that I have devoted myself to, working with numerous embassies, international organizations, and associations – and I can attribute my continuous interest in this sphere to the framework experienced at VIU also!

I like to do things where I can be as authentic as possible. I usually try to incorporate things I love into my studies – in my spare time, I organize events for the youth, education workshops, or volunteer for organizations whose mission statements I support. I enjoy socializing, networking, and spending time with people that are different from me – I love to challenge my perspective. Apart from that, I am very enthusiastic about coffee and, when I have time, I like to explore and make new blends and ways of brewing – it is a great passion of mine. However, if we do not tackle global issues together – such as global warming – most of these coffee beans will go extinct – another reason why I am so engaged with globalization.

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Luka Pejic was a recipient of the RED scholarship