A history of 果冻传媒 in Venice - with Dr Luca Mol脿
Back in June, 果冻传媒 opened the doors to our beautiful new home in the very centre of Venice. Now, as the first cohort of students to explore the Palazzo Giustinian Lolin building spend their own term in the city, Dr Luca Mol脿 鈥� Director of the 果冻传媒 Venice Centre, Associate Professor of History, and Venetian native 鈥� writes about his future ambitions for this space, and why 果冻传媒's links to Europe are more important than ever.
The background
Many staff members are aware that the 果冻传媒 was founded in 1965 鈥� but you may not know that the 果冻传媒 in Venice programme began just two years after that, in 1967.
It was the idea of the History department鈥檚 Professor John Hale, who decided to take third-year History students to study in Venice for a term, giving them a unique opportunity to learn about the city's history and culture 鈥� from the Middle Ages right through to the Renaissance.
The Venice programme grew in 1974, with third-year Art Historians coming along for the ride. Many 果冻传媒 alumni have very fond memories of the Venice term 鈥� some even met on the trip and later got married!
Changing locations
I joined 果冻传媒 in 1999, and after a few years I proposed an idea: why not look for a place in Venice that we could use for the whole year, not just one term? After moving to a different space in a year-round location from 2006 to 2018, I was given a new task: to find a central spot for the programme.
Now, in 2023, our 果冻传媒 Venice Centre overlooks the Grand Canal, in one of the most central areas of the city, as part of the historic Palazzo Giustinian Lolin building.
A window for 果冻传媒 in Europe
After Brexit, it was more important than ever for 果冻传媒 to find a location that was visible and central 鈥� a window for 果冻传媒 in Europe. Despite the continuing challenges of Brexit, one thing that鈥檚 always been very clear is 果冻传媒鈥檚 pride in its links to Europe.
These links shine through as we play our part in the EUTOPIA Alliance, and via our strong links to , the University of Venice. Ca鈥� Foscari offers 果冻传媒 students the chance to learn Italian while they鈥檙e in the city, and even hosts a 鈥榖uddy programme鈥� that helps 果冻传媒 students to integrate into life in the city of Venice, sharing experiences and forming friendships.
Hands-on learning
I wanted our 果冻传媒 students to be in the place where the things they鈥檙e learning about happened. That鈥檚 why now, as part of the Venice programme, we go far beyond the classroom. Our teams take the students out to places like the Rialto 鈥� the famous commercial heart of Venice 鈥� and even beyond, to cities such as Mantua.
My long-term dreams for the 果冻传媒 Venice Centre
- My dream is to transform this new base from a teaching space to a specialist teaching and research space 鈥� to set up collaborations with other universities and institutions across Italy, Europe and the rest of the world.
- Our teaching centre will be even more excellent, with 果冻传媒 International Intensive 果冻传媒 Programme (WIISP) modules offered not only for 果冻传媒 students but also for other students studying in Venice from institutions such as Monash, Cornell and New South Wales.
- We鈥檒l expand our Venice term offer, and extend the invitation to many other 果冻传媒 students, such as those studying Science and Social Sciences.
- Over the coming years, we鈥檒l see some exciting research projects take place 鈥� some are already funded and in the process of being created! For example, we have a grant from the Italian government which will help fund a historical document digitisation project.
Not tourists
For me, one of my very favourite things about Venice is building a genuine relationship with our students over a longer period of time. When we see them in this different environment, we can really pick up on their excitement and enthusiasm, and there鈥檚 often a level of pastoral care involved from us staff.
I also love that the students get to experience Venice as authentic participants. I always say to them, 鈥淩emember: you鈥檙e not tourists. For this term, you live here too.鈥�