From Europe to Politecnico di Milano: the first International Staff Training Week on Environmental Sustainability

From 6 to 10 October 2025, Politecnico di Milano hosted a delegation of 19 technical and administrative staff members from 17 European universities for the first International Staff Training Week dedicated to the theme of environmental sustainability.

The initiative, organised through the joint efforts of the International Relations Office, the International Mobility Office and the Environmental Sustainability Office, with the collaboration of numerous Departments and University units, offered participants an intensive programme of workshops, site visits and opportunities for discussion and networking. Participants were selected on the basis of their professional roles within their institutions, with the aim of promoting the exchange of experiences and best practices in the field of sustainability, showcasing the activities already undertaken by Politecnico di Milano, and fostering future collaborations among European universities.

The week opened with a welcome event at Educafè, attended by the Vice-Rector for Sustainable Development and Impact, Alessandro Perego, and the Delegates Mario Grosso (Sustainable Universities Networks) and Mario Motta (Energy Transition).
Professor Alessandro Balducci retraced, through images and site plans, the transformation of Piazza Leonardo and the Città Studi campus, illustrating projects that have marked the evolution of Politecnico di Milano towards an increasingly sustainable and liveable university environment.

During the Campus Leonardo tour, participants had the opportunity to explore several environmental sustainability initiatives: from collection points for cigarette butts, batteries and small WEEE, to public drinking water facilities, as well as sustainable mobility solutions such as the campus bike station.

The following days were devoted to lectures, interactive workshops and visits to university laboratories, focusing on topics such as the Strategic Sustainability Plan, the Home-to-University Mobility Plan, the CO₂ Emissions Mitigation Plan and ongoing actions for climate change adaptation.
Additional subjects included energy consumption reduction (also related to artificial intelligence), active mobility, resilience to extreme weather events, reuse of materials and products, and the expansion of green areas across the campuses.

The week concluded with a final session for reflection and discussion, during which participants expressed a shared commitment to continuing collaboration and maintaining an active dialogue on strategies to promote an increasingly sustainable university.
The event was highly appreciated for its ability to combine training, networking and inspiration for new projects, both within the participants’ home institutions and at Politecnico di Milano itself.

More information at: Environmental Sustainability and Internationalization at the center of the First International Staff Training Week at the Politecnico di Milano