The Interdepartmental Research Center MERGED - Migration and Recognition Gender Diversity

The MERGED Interdepartmental Research Centre – Migration and Gender Diversity Recognition, formerly the Interdepartmental Research Centre for Gender Studies, was established on 8 August 2005 by Rector's Decree No. 1906/2005 and has many years of experience in research, study and promotion of activities related to migration, gender, multiculturalism and the recognition of differences.
The Centre's president is Prof. Silvia Illari, former vice-president, professor of Public Law Institutions at the Department of Political and Social Sciences and member of the Scientific Committee of the Network for Equality, chaired by Dr Rosa Oliva. The Centre relies on the collaboration of members from 16 departments of the University of Pavia and the President of the University's CUG, Prof. Patrice Rusconi. There are also a number of co-opted members, appointed from among experts in the Centre's areas of study. The rectors of Pavia's women's colleges also participate in the CTS.

MERGED's objectives (Art. 3 of the Regulations) include the promotion and dissemination of “national and international study and research activities on migration, gender issues, multiculturalism and the recognition of differences”, with a focus on a multidisciplinary approach. The activities carried out by the centre are also based on collaboration with local, national and international bodies to raise awareness of gender issues and cultural diversity, providing concrete support for the promotion of equal opportunities. In addition, MERGED aims to encourage collaboration between universities and public or private research bodies in order to develop the issues of relevance to the Centre and promotes numerous conferences, seminars, training meetings and courses on these topics.

For years, the Centre has offered a Level I Master's Degree in Immigration, Gender, Family Models and Integration Strategies, now in its 14th edition. Among MERGED's numerous activities, we would like to highlight the Young Refugees project promoted by the Bracco Foundation, the interdepartmental and multidisciplinary course Prevention of Gender Violence: Educating for Respect, in which numerous members of the centre participate as lecturers. The course is divided into three modules coordinated by Prof. Silvia Illari and Prof. Maria Assunta Zanetti, vice-president of MERGED; the BAF conference cycle – Look Back, Look Around, Look to the Future, organised together with the Municipality of Pavia and with the collaboration of Pavia's women's colleges.
Since 2024, a curricular internship has been available to students of the University of Pavia and female students of colleges affiliated with the centre. Since April 2025, Giulia Bonavia, a student at the Santa Caterina College enrolled in the Department of Humanities at the University of Pavia, has been doing her internship at the MERGED centre.

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