From 20 to 24 October 2025, the University of Salerno (UNISA) participated in the Staff Week “The Role of Administrative Staff in Student’s Experience”, organized by the University of Tours (France) within Work Package 4 of the NEOLAiA project.
Fully involved in the activities, participants from UNISA included Jasmine Fusco (member of the WP4 NEOLAiA Task Force), Daniela Varani, Francesca Meloro, and Rosa D’Agostino (administrative staff of the UNISA International Relations Office).
The event, structured as a Blended Intensive Programme (BIP), began with an online introductory session aimed at connecting participants, presenting the agenda, and providing practical information about logistics, travel, and accommodation.
The on-site activities took place at the “Tanneurs” building of the University of Tours, with the opening ceremony held in the Thélème room and attended by the university’s academic authorities. The first day included networking sessions, interactive presentations, a guided campus tour, and a visit of the city of Tours, fostering from the outset a climate of collaboration and exchange among participants.
Throughout the week, participants attended conferences and thematic workshops focused on key aspects of university management, such as:
- the French higher education system and the organization of the University of Tours;
- the management of Erasmus mobility programmes and short-term BIPs;
- the role of student support services, with special attention to inclusion and special needs;
- and the management of crises in higher education, including environmental emergencies, pandemics, and strikes, together with the administrative strategies adopted to address them.
The two-group workshop format encouraged open discussion and the exchange of good practices among the partner universities and their international offices within the NEOLAiA network. The Staff Week concluded with a “take-away” session, during which participants shared the main lessons learned and discussed future collaboration opportunities, followed by a final survey to collect feedback and suggestions for improvement.
In addition to the academic sessions, the week also featured cultural, linguistic, and networking activities, including an introductory French language lesson, a visit to a Loire Valley castle, and a wine and local food tasting. These experiences offered valuable opportunities for personal and cultural enrichment, allowing participants to connect with the local culture while strengthening professional relationships and fostering a shared sense of community within the NEOLAiA alliance.
UNISA’s participation reaffirmed the University’s commitment to strengthening European cooperation in higher education and to enhancing the strategic role of administrative staff in building an increasingly international and inclusive academic environment.
