Iter, the Latin word for “journey, path”, generally refers to the series of steps and procedures that must be followed to complete a task. Therefore, it also has a symbolic meaning for all the participants (both students and the project team) who will embark on this journey to put in place inclusive admission and support measures and strengthen the cooperation with the cantonal authorities to reach stable practices that will be integrated in university life and continue beyond the conclusion of the project.
The ITERSS (Inclusive Tertiary Education for Refugees in Southern Switzerland) project involves collaboration between Università della Svizzera italiana (USI) and Scuola universitaria professionale della Svizzera italiana (SUPSI) and with FUS (Franklin University Switzerland) as external partner to strengthen the offerings available in Italian-speaking Switzerland and to improve access to tertiary education for refugees residing in Ticino (or in Switzerland).
The project is supported by swissuniversities as part of the second call of the programme Equité – Promouvoir l’égalité, la diversité et l’inclusion à tous les niveaux des hautes écoles For the period 2025-2028.
Objectives of the project
The project has the concrete objective of creating a shared and structured operational framework between USI and SUPSI to ensure better information and equitable access to our university schools for people with a refugee background, taking into account their aspirations and potential as well as the structural challenges they face.
USI and SUPSI, with the support of internal services, swissuniversities and the relevant institutions, intend to combine resources, experiences, and best practices to build a more inclusive and coordinated offer.
Planned measures
The project foresees the enhancement of measures already in place (support in the application process and access pathways to prepare for regular admission), as well as the implementation of entirely new measures:
• advanced-level Italian courses,
• learning coaches (study support service),
• structured coordination with cantonal authorities,
• activation of peer-to-peer digital competences courses,
• feasibility study dedicated to the development or reinforcement of continuing education for qualified refugees living in Italian-speaking Switzerland,
• awareness-raising activities for academic and administrative staff on themes related to inclusivity,
• active involvement of candidates in the preparatory programmes into the activities regularly offered for full-time students to foster inclusion in the academic community.
The project will run from June 2026 to December 2028.