Notices
Peace initiatives at PoliTO
July 22nd, 2025
Politecnico di Torino supports the Declaration on Gaza signed by 25 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
Politecnico di Torino supports the Declaration on Gaza signed by 25 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, including the Italian Minister, and by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
In line with its own appeal for peace issued on 26 May 2025 - which also urged the “institutions of the European Union to take action […] to achieve and guarantee a just and lasting peace” - the University endorses, after sharing them with its Board of Directors and Academic Senate, all the requests addressed in the Declaration by the Foreign Ministers and the European Commissioner to the Israeli Government and, above all, the core message it conveys after months of inhuman suffering endured by the Palestinian civilian population: the war in Gaza must end now.
Read the Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (21 July 2025)
May 26th, 2025
Press Release – Politecnico di Torino on the ongoing situation in Gaza
On behalf of the Community of Politecnico di Torino, the Rector, the Executive Board, the Academic Senate and the Board of Directors express indignation and condemnation for the continuing massacre of the civilian population in Gaza.
In recent months, the Politecnico di Torino has stood out for its balanced stance and its firm respect for the values of pluralism and due process, including in relation to recent events concerning the accusation of genocide brought against Israel by some states before the International Court of Justice.
Precisely because of this recognized balance and institutional posture, today we feel compelled to appeal to everyone’s conscience: without in any way forgetting the heinous Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, we believe that the ongoing indiscriminate massacre of the civilian population in Gaza - which we witness daily - cannot be tolerated.
We urge all actors who can play a role to take action to bring an end to this massacre.
We call on our government and the institutions of the European Union to use all diplomatic means available to achieve and guarantee a just and lasting peace.
We invite the Israeli academic community - with whom we intend to continue fostering solid and productive scientific collaboration - to mobilize, through the democratic means available, to call on its government to balance legitimate national security objectives with proportionality in the tools employed, and above all with consideration and compassion for the thousands of innocent human beings suffering in Gaza.
July 8th, 2024
Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada
Last Saturday Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada halls were vacated and, as of today, actions are already underway to return these spaces to full use by the entire polytechnic community.
In particular, inspections in Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada halls have shown that these occupied spaces have been left without significant damage to either the structures or the equipment they contain. Our University is already working to ensure and restore the full use of these spaces in time for the start of the degree session and graduation ceremonies.
However, within this framework, legality and safety have not been totally restored in all University’s premises as requested by the Academic Senate since a departmental classroom has not yet been vacated by the student occupiers and is therefore unavailable for University activities.
July 4th, 2024
Academic Senate’s extraordinary session about "Peace initiatives"
The Academic Senate’s extraordinary session held today to discuss "Peace initiatives" has been introduced with a description of the activities carried out by the "Research Ethics" Working Group which was officially required by the Academic Senate to create an effective communication channel for dialogue with Politecnico di Torino students’ representatives who are taking part in the student occupation.
The group worked favoring exchange of ideas within a collaborative framework and agreed on a path to incorporate ideas that would enrich the University Action Plan (link) on “peace, ethical awareness and transparency” initiatives and lead to restore legality and security by returning all occupied spaces.
As the Senate Working Group reported, specific elements agreed and gathered were not accepted by the student occupiers’ Assembly and consequently no shared path has been started.
In view of the above,, the Senate was called upon to express its opinion on two motions that came up for deliberation.
The first motion, submitted by the AlterPolis students’ representative in the Academic Senate entitled “Claims of Politecnico di Torino student occupiers’ Assembly” was rejected, receiving 24 votes against, 3 abstentions and 1 vote in favor. The main reasons for opposition concerned three aspects. The first aspect, which is substantive, is related to the fact that the university institution is based on openness to dialogue and relations, which are fundamental for the construction of a society of peace, while the motion's contents are divisive and “locked”. The second aspect, which is a procedural one, since it is part of the claims already included in the Senate motion of 7 May and the subsequent Action Plan. The third aspect, which is formal, is related to fact that it has been considered inappropriate that the Academic Senate can be required to express its opinion about the claims by the student occupiers’ Assembly that is outside institutional legitimacy.
The second motion, submitted by the Research Ethics Working Group was approved, receiving 26 votes in favour, 1 abstention and 1 vote against. The Senate then approved the following:
“The Academic Senate of Politecnico di Torino, confirming the path’s direction undertaken within the extraordinary session held on 7 May 2024 (link) and the subsequent launch of the action plan (link), in view of the evolving international situation and the situation inside Politecnico’s premises, as well:
June 27th, 2024
Dialogue with student occupation's representatives
The “Research ethics” Working Group, appointed last 22 May, has been officially required by the Academic Senate to create an effective communication channel for dialogue with Politecnico di Torino students’ representatives who are taking part in the student occupation. The group worked hard and gathered four times in a week favoring exchange of ideas within a collaborative framework: significant points of view converged between the working group and the student occupiers, which could have led to a fruitful discussion at a future Senate session. However, yesterday, 26 June, the exchange came to an abrupt halt due to the refusal of the student occupiers to advocate for the return of all occupied spaces and the restoration of legality within Polito facilities, which was agreed as necessary condition to proceed with further action on the points being discussed at the table. The Working Group is keeping a communication channel open.
June 21st, 2024
Senate Working Group "Research ethics"
In accordance with the Academic Senate of last Friday, June14th, next monday, June 17th, the Senate Working Group "Research ethics" will be launched: a team aimed at opening a dialogue with some representatives of the students involved in the current occupation.
June 17th, 2024
Peace Initiatives
Given the official decision of May 7th, 2024, the Academic Senate working groups launched a series of "Peace Initiatives". More details available at this link.
May 30th, 2024
PoliTO Students conference of May 29th
Yesterday PoliTO helt a student conference on peace. A unique event among Italian Universities, organized by PoliTO Academic Senate students representatives and Board of Governors, with the whole community support.
Students shared their perceptions with Politecnico's faculty, Rector, and Governing bodies. 177 Participants came in presence and 115 via online streaming. 53 students gave their speeches showing their views, accompanied by horror at what is happening in Gaza and by the desire to seek peace.
May 29th, 2024
Rector's answer to "PolitoForPalestine Assembly"
Click here to read the full text (Italian only).
May 28th, 2024
PoliTO Students Conference, in numbers: 65 speeches, room R3 (300 seats, sold out); entrance from 5.15 p.m., start at 6 p.m. Streaming available to all PoliTO community.
May 26th, 2024
Appreciation letter to PoliTO Senators and Board of Governors
The Rector has just sent to Politecnico's Senators and Board of Governors an appreciation letter for the relevant support shown with regards to last friday's initiative.
Click here to read the full text (Italian only).
May 23rd, 2024
CRUI: Ceasefire and no to boycott of Israeli Universities
Today, the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) Assembly clearly reiterated its call for a ‘ceasefire’ and its no to closing relations with Israeli universities; universities are places of openness, whose role is to maintain and create bridges of open and continuous dialogue through scientific debate.
PoliTO Academic Senate approved the participation to the National Ph.D. Board on "Peace Studies"
Yesterday, the Academic Senate designated Politecnico's faculty members involved in the National Ph.D. Board on "Peace Studies", which is promoted by the Network of Italian Universities for Peace (RUniPace) with the aim of promoting and disseminating interdisciplinary training and research on conflict and peace issues.
May 22nd, 2024
Establishment of Senate Working Groups on Peace initiatives
During today's session of the Academic Senate, Wednesday May 22nd, Senate Working Groups have been established to give effect to the University Action Plan on Peace initiatives, in implementation of the Senate resolution of May 7th.
Registration for the Politecnico di Torino Student Conference
Starting tomorrow, Thursday May 23rd, students will receive by e-mail instructions on how to participate and intervene in the first Politecnico di Torino Student Conference on Peace, scheduled for May 29th.
May 21st, 2024
Note of support for the motion on peace issues
Today, the members of the Board of Governors members of the University have formally expressed to the Rector their full support for the motion on peace issues approved by the Academic Senate on May 7th 2024, endorsing the spirit of the University in promoting dialogue and confrontation, in a democratic and peaceful way, among all the voices and souls of the Politecnico community. They also strongly expressed their support for the initiative of the first "Politecnico di Torino Student Conference", scheduled for May 29th.
May 17th, 2024
At today's meeting on Friday May 17, the student representatives of the Senate and Board of Governors, together with the Rector, Prorector and Vicerector for Community, agreed to hold a CONFERENZA STUDENTI DEL POLITECNICO DI TORINO about issues of peace on May 29 at 6 p.m., with in-person participation upon reservation subject to availability exclusively for the student community and streaming connection. Speeches by students are scheduled, with Politecnico di Torino’s community listening. The aim of the Conference is to have a moment fully dedicated to the student community, giving space for the expression and listening to all its sensitivities on the issues of peace. Instructions with reservation details will follow.
May 16th, 2024
As part of the ongoing nationwide student protests, a march will take place tomorrow, May 17th, with Politecnico di Torino as possible destination. To ensure the safety of Politecnico’s student community, the PoliTO Governance in agreement with the PoliTO Academic Senate and Board of Governors’ student representatives deemed it appropriate that teaching activities scheduled for tomorrow at the main Campus and in the Cittadella will be delivered remotely or rescheduled in the following days.
The same representatives, together with the Rector, the Deputy Rector and the Vice Rector for Community also gave effect to what agreed in previous meetings, planning, by the end of May, a POLITECNICO DI TORINO STUDENTS’ CONFERENCE, organized as an occasion of democratic sharing of ideas and positions to make room for expressing and pay attention to all voices and souls of the student community of our University student community.
May 15th, 2024
Following today's meeting between PoliTO Academic Senate and Board of Governors’ student representatives with the Rector, the following shared statement is published:
“The opportunity of the student community to peacefully and civilly demonstrate even with dissent expressions is a fundamental element of university life, which is enriched through the liveliness of debate and diversity of opinions in the mutual respect to thw community's right to freely and regularly experience and benefit from all educational activities”.
May 7th, 2024
Following the commitment made by the Academic Senate on 8 April 2024 and the scheduling of the session on 19 April 2024, the Senate met in an extraordinary session on 7 May 2024, approving a document concerning peace initiatives (click here to read it).
April 8th, 2024
Following the press release issued on 5 April, the Academic Senate, which met informally on 8 April 2024, issued the following statement:
“The Academic Senate acknowledges and thanks the Rector for the press release of Friday, 5 April 2024, reported above, which recalls the ongoing reflections and exchange of ideas within the University on the themes of peace, whose pursuit unites the entire polytechnic community.
The Academic Senate, which already in the session of 15 November 2023 strongly emphasized that ‘the University is a place of encounter and dialogue and as such acts and works for peace, consequently orienting its missions,’ agrees on the opportunity to convene a session dedicated to the consideration of these themes, with the aim of openly discussing the ideas emerging from the various positions within the polytechnic community, gathered by the Rector and by the Academic Senate itself also through a number of dialogue and discussion initiatives planned in the coming weeks.”
Politecnico di Torino supports the Declaration on Gaza signed by 25 Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management
Politecnico di Torino supports the Declaration on Gaza signed by 25 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, including the Italian Minister, and by the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management.
In line with its own appeal for peace issued on 26 May 2025 - which also urged the “institutions of the European Union to take action […] to achieve and guarantee a just and lasting peace” - the University endorses, after sharing them with its Board of Directors and Academic Senate, all the requests addressed in the Declaration by the Foreign Ministers and the European Commissioner to the Israeli Government and, above all, the core message it conveys after months of inhuman suffering endured by the Palestinian civilian population: the war in Gaza must end now.
Read the Declaration of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs (21 July 2025)
May 26th, 2025
Press Release – Politecnico di Torino on the ongoing situation in Gaza
On behalf of the Community of Politecnico di Torino, the Rector, the Executive Board, the Academic Senate and the Board of Directors express indignation and condemnation for the continuing massacre of the civilian population in Gaza.
In recent months, the Politecnico di Torino has stood out for its balanced stance and its firm respect for the values of pluralism and due process, including in relation to recent events concerning the accusation of genocide brought against Israel by some states before the International Court of Justice.
Precisely because of this recognized balance and institutional posture, today we feel compelled to appeal to everyone’s conscience: without in any way forgetting the heinous Hamas attack of 7 October 2023, we believe that the ongoing indiscriminate massacre of the civilian population in Gaza - which we witness daily - cannot be tolerated.
We urge all actors who can play a role to take action to bring an end to this massacre.
We call on our government and the institutions of the European Union to use all diplomatic means available to achieve and guarantee a just and lasting peace.
We invite the Israeli academic community - with whom we intend to continue fostering solid and productive scientific collaboration - to mobilize, through the democratic means available, to call on its government to balance legitimate national security objectives with proportionality in the tools employed, and above all with consideration and compassion for the thousands of innocent human beings suffering in Gaza.
July 8th, 2024
Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada
Last Saturday Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada halls were vacated and, as of today, actions are already underway to return these spaces to full use by the entire polytechnic community.
In particular, inspections in Aula Magna and Sala Emma Strada halls have shown that these occupied spaces have been left without significant damage to either the structures or the equipment they contain. Our University is already working to ensure and restore the full use of these spaces in time for the start of the degree session and graduation ceremonies.
However, within this framework, legality and safety have not been totally restored in all University’s premises as requested by the Academic Senate since a departmental classroom has not yet been vacated by the student occupiers and is therefore unavailable for University activities.
July 4th, 2024
Academic Senate’s extraordinary session about "Peace initiatives"
The Academic Senate’s extraordinary session held today to discuss "Peace initiatives" has been introduced with a description of the activities carried out by the "Research Ethics" Working Group which was officially required by the Academic Senate to create an effective communication channel for dialogue with Politecnico di Torino students’ representatives who are taking part in the student occupation.
The group worked favoring exchange of ideas within a collaborative framework and agreed on a path to incorporate ideas that would enrich the University Action Plan (link) on “peace, ethical awareness and transparency” initiatives and lead to restore legality and security by returning all occupied spaces.
As the Senate Working Group reported, specific elements agreed and gathered were not accepted by the student occupiers’ Assembly and consequently no shared path has been started.
In view of the above,, the Senate was called upon to express its opinion on two motions that came up for deliberation.
The first motion, submitted by the AlterPolis students’ representative in the Academic Senate entitled “Claims of Politecnico di Torino student occupiers’ Assembly” was rejected, receiving 24 votes against, 3 abstentions and 1 vote in favor. The main reasons for opposition concerned three aspects. The first aspect, which is substantive, is related to the fact that the university institution is based on openness to dialogue and relations, which are fundamental for the construction of a society of peace, while the motion's contents are divisive and “locked”. The second aspect, which is a procedural one, since it is part of the claims already included in the Senate motion of 7 May and the subsequent Action Plan. The third aspect, which is formal, is related to fact that it has been considered inappropriate that the Academic Senate can be required to express its opinion about the claims by the student occupiers’ Assembly that is outside institutional legitimacy.
The second motion, submitted by the Research Ethics Working Group was approved, receiving 26 votes in favour, 1 abstention and 1 vote against. The Senate then approved the following:
“The Academic Senate of Politecnico di Torino, confirming the path’s direction undertaken within the extraordinary session held on 7 May 2024 (link) and the subsequent launch of the action plan (link), in view of the evolving international situation and the situation inside Politecnico’s premises, as well:
- It endorses the Crui statement (link), condemning the 7 October attack and the massacre of civilians that- since that date - has been perpetrated in the Gaza Strip; it expresses its solidarity with the Palestinian population and condemns the crisis management by Hamas and the Israeli Government; it calls on the parties to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2735 of 10 June 2024 (link), urging an immediate, full and complete ceasefire, the release of hostages, the restoring of international law and the launching of a reconstruction plan that can lead to a stable peace; it calls on the Rector to promote this position to the CRUI so that it can be extended to all institutional contexts
- It demands the immediate restoration of legality and security within the University.
- It demands that all currently occupied spaces be vacated immediately and returned to full use by the entire polytechnic community for the exercise of their functions."
June 27th, 2024
Dialogue with student occupation's representatives
The “Research ethics” Working Group, appointed last 22 May, has been officially required by the Academic Senate to create an effective communication channel for dialogue with Politecnico di Torino students’ representatives who are taking part in the student occupation. The group worked hard and gathered four times in a week favoring exchange of ideas within a collaborative framework: significant points of view converged between the working group and the student occupiers, which could have led to a fruitful discussion at a future Senate session. However, yesterday, 26 June, the exchange came to an abrupt halt due to the refusal of the student occupiers to advocate for the return of all occupied spaces and the restoration of legality within Polito facilities, which was agreed as necessary condition to proceed with further action on the points being discussed at the table. The Working Group is keeping a communication channel open.
June 21st, 2024
Senate Working Group "Research ethics"
In accordance with the Academic Senate of last Friday, June14th, next monday, June 17th, the Senate Working Group "Research ethics" will be launched: a team aimed at opening a dialogue with some representatives of the students involved in the current occupation.
June 17th, 2024
Peace Initiatives
Given the official decision of May 7th, 2024, the Academic Senate working groups launched a series of "Peace Initiatives". More details available at this link.
May 30th, 2024
PoliTO Students conference of May 29th
Yesterday PoliTO helt a student conference on peace. A unique event among Italian Universities, organized by PoliTO Academic Senate students representatives and Board of Governors, with the whole community support.
Students shared their perceptions with Politecnico's faculty, Rector, and Governing bodies. 177 Participants came in presence and 115 via online streaming. 53 students gave their speeches showing their views, accompanied by horror at what is happening in Gaza and by the desire to seek peace.
May 29th, 2024
Rector's answer to "PolitoForPalestine Assembly"
Click here to read the full text (Italian only).
May 28th, 2024
PoliTO Students Conference, in numbers: 65 speeches, room R3 (300 seats, sold out); entrance from 5.15 p.m., start at 6 p.m. Streaming available to all PoliTO community.
May 26th, 2024
Appreciation letter to PoliTO Senators and Board of Governors
The Rector has just sent to Politecnico's Senators and Board of Governors an appreciation letter for the relevant support shown with regards to last friday's initiative.
Click here to read the full text (Italian only).
May 23rd, 2024
CRUI: Ceasefire and no to boycott of Israeli Universities
Today, the CRUI (Conference of Italian University Rectors) Assembly clearly reiterated its call for a ‘ceasefire’ and its no to closing relations with Israeli universities; universities are places of openness, whose role is to maintain and create bridges of open and continuous dialogue through scientific debate.
PoliTO Academic Senate approved the participation to the National Ph.D. Board on "Peace Studies"
Yesterday, the Academic Senate designated Politecnico's faculty members involved in the National Ph.D. Board on "Peace Studies", which is promoted by the Network of Italian Universities for Peace (RUniPace) with the aim of promoting and disseminating interdisciplinary training and research on conflict and peace issues.
May 22nd, 2024
Establishment of Senate Working Groups on Peace initiatives
During today's session of the Academic Senate, Wednesday May 22nd, Senate Working Groups have been established to give effect to the University Action Plan on Peace initiatives, in implementation of the Senate resolution of May 7th.
Registration for the Politecnico di Torino Student Conference
Starting tomorrow, Thursday May 23rd, students will receive by e-mail instructions on how to participate and intervene in the first Politecnico di Torino Student Conference on Peace, scheduled for May 29th.
May 21st, 2024
Note of support for the motion on peace issues
Today, the members of the Board of Governors members of the University have formally expressed to the Rector their full support for the motion on peace issues approved by the Academic Senate on May 7th 2024, endorsing the spirit of the University in promoting dialogue and confrontation, in a democratic and peaceful way, among all the voices and souls of the Politecnico community. They also strongly expressed their support for the initiative of the first "Politecnico di Torino Student Conference", scheduled for May 29th.
May 17th, 2024
At today's meeting on Friday May 17, the student representatives of the Senate and Board of Governors, together with the Rector, Prorector and Vicerector for Community, agreed to hold a CONFERENZA STUDENTI DEL POLITECNICO DI TORINO about issues of peace on May 29 at 6 p.m., with in-person participation upon reservation subject to availability exclusively for the student community and streaming connection. Speeches by students are scheduled, with Politecnico di Torino’s community listening. The aim of the Conference is to have a moment fully dedicated to the student community, giving space for the expression and listening to all its sensitivities on the issues of peace. Instructions with reservation details will follow.
May 16th, 2024
As part of the ongoing nationwide student protests, a march will take place tomorrow, May 17th, with Politecnico di Torino as possible destination. To ensure the safety of Politecnico’s student community, the PoliTO Governance in agreement with the PoliTO Academic Senate and Board of Governors’ student representatives deemed it appropriate that teaching activities scheduled for tomorrow at the main Campus and in the Cittadella will be delivered remotely or rescheduled in the following days.
The same representatives, together with the Rector, the Deputy Rector and the Vice Rector for Community also gave effect to what agreed in previous meetings, planning, by the end of May, a POLITECNICO DI TORINO STUDENTS’ CONFERENCE, organized as an occasion of democratic sharing of ideas and positions to make room for expressing and pay attention to all voices and souls of the student community of our University student community.
May 15th, 2024
Following today's meeting between PoliTO Academic Senate and Board of Governors’ student representatives with the Rector, the following shared statement is published:
“The opportunity of the student community to peacefully and civilly demonstrate even with dissent expressions is a fundamental element of university life, which is enriched through the liveliness of debate and diversity of opinions in the mutual respect to thw community's right to freely and regularly experience and benefit from all educational activities”.
May 7th, 2024
Following the commitment made by the Academic Senate on 8 April 2024 and the scheduling of the session on 19 April 2024, the Senate met in an extraordinary session on 7 May 2024, approving a document concerning peace initiatives (click here to read it).
April 8th, 2024
Following the press release issued on 5 April, the Academic Senate, which met informally on 8 April 2024, issued the following statement:
“The Academic Senate acknowledges and thanks the Rector for the press release of Friday, 5 April 2024, reported above, which recalls the ongoing reflections and exchange of ideas within the University on the themes of peace, whose pursuit unites the entire polytechnic community.
The Academic Senate, which already in the session of 15 November 2023 strongly emphasized that ‘the University is a place of encounter and dialogue and as such acts and works for peace, consequently orienting its missions,’ agrees on the opportunity to convene a session dedicated to the consideration of these themes, with the aim of openly discussing the ideas emerging from the various positions within the polytechnic community, gathered by the Rector and by the Academic Senate itself also through a number of dialogue and discussion initiatives planned in the coming weeks.”