Rome, May 16, 2024. The presentation of the national study "International Students in Italy: Main Features and Economic Impact – 2023" was held at Palazzo Grazioli, the new headquarters of the Foreign Press Association. Conducted by Uni-Italia, with the support of universities and MAECI, MUR, and the Ministry of the Interior, the study aims to provide insights of demographic decline and the chronic shortage of personnel in some strategically important productive sectors for the country.

"International Students in Italy: Main Features and Economic Impact – 2023" also includes research commissioned by Uni-Italia to Bocconi University of Milan, providing data on the effects of national and regional investments aimed at attracting international students in the analyzed territories. In the areas examined, the total revenue recorded is 29 million euros, against an investment in scholarships of 11 million euros, with a net gain estimated at around 18 million euros.

During the presentation, the President of Uni-Italia, Professor Francesco Profumo, reported that 93.8% of the students who responded to the survey chose Italy to pursue a degree: 57.3% a master's degree (two-year courses), 29.4% a three-year bachelor's degree, and 7.1% a university professional diploma, with the remaining percentage opting for other types of courses offered, such as PhDs. Among these, 70.15% had never had a previous international experience, meaning they decided to start their international study journey in Italy.

During the event, moderated by Professor Vincenzo Mannino, the New President of Uni-Italia's Scientific Committee, Professors Jacopo De Tullio and Elena Poli from the Department of Decision Sciences at Bocconi University in Milan, briefly illustrated the survey results, which were addressed to all international students enrolled in 2022/23 academic year in 27 Italian universities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has awarded over 5,000 scholarships to young people to study in Italy over the past 7-8 years.

The research, written in English, was partially previewed in the first joint publication "The economic impact of international students and graduates on host countries", compiled together with the Sister Organizations and presented at the Farnesina during the IV International Conference of Higher Education Internationalization Agencies, held last November.