The School of International Studies of the University of Trento joins institutions like SciencesPo in Paris and the Graduate Institute of Geneva, and Yale, Stanford, Harvard and Princeton, in the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs (Apsia). At the moment it is the first and only Italian school, and one of the few in Europe, in the community of leading international schools in the world that train policy makers. The application of the SSI was approved by the majority of the members after a careful review that examined various aspects, from education programmes to the experience of the teaching staff, from international partnerships to placement opportunities.
Stefano Schiavo, director of the School of International Studies, comments: "Becoming a member of the Association of Professional Schools of International Affairs is a recognition of the quality of our education and of our international dimension. The news comes as we prepare to celebrate the School's 20 years of activity and demonstrates that the decision to expand the University's offer of programmes of study in the area of international relations was a good one. Being part of this community of leading schools of international studies is a recognition of the efforts we made in recent years and of the great teamwork that we all do at the SSI every day. It also gives visibility to our School all over the world, and makes us known to young people who want to prepare for a career in international affairs, in international organizations, diplomacy or private companies".
Since 2001, the School has trained and graduated over 500 young people. "According to the most recent Almalaurea report, 60% of our graduates work abroad, with a salary that is 31% higher than the average graduate salary in Italy, and 96% believe that the training provided by the Master's degree is crucial for their work", reports Schiavo.
Apsia was founded in 1989 and is an association dedicated to the improvement of graduate education in international affairs. It encourages the exchange of best practices and relationships between the academic world, the real world and the world of professions. Apsia offers its students an environment of diversity and inclusion. The association promotes the involvement of students so that they can be part of positive change for development, peace and security on a global level.
The School of International Studies, established in 2001 by the Faculties of Economics, Law, Humanities and Sociology of the University of Trento, was transformed into a university centre in 2012. Today it offers a Master's degree in European and International Studies, a Master's degree in International Security Studies (with Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa), an International Master's in Security, Intelligence and Strategic Studies (joint Erasmus Mundus master's degree with the University of Glasgow - UK, City Dublin University - Ireland, Charles University in Prague - Czech Republic), and a PhD in International Studies. All programmes are in English.