Bologna calls international talent: An event for those who want to build their future in the city
Graduating in Bologna and choosing to stay. For many international students at the University of Bologna, this desire runs into a series of practical obstacles: how to convert a residence permit, where to look for work, what skills local companies are actually looking for. The event “Starting a Life Journey in Bologna: Opportunities and Procedures to Start Your Career in the Metropolitan Area” aims to answer exactly these questions. It takes place on Wednesday, March 4th, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM at the Biblioteca Renzo Renzi, inside the Cineteca di Bologna in Piazzetta Pier Paolo Pasolini 3/B.
The initiative is promoted by Bologna for Talent — the service of the Metropolitan City and Municipality of Bologna dedicated to attracting and retaining talent — in collaboration with Alma Mater Studiorum – University of Bologna and the Almae Matris Alumni Association. It is part of the Bologna for Talent 2024-2025 project, co-funded by Regional Law no. 2/2023 for the attraction and enhancement of highly specialized talent in Emilia-Romagna.
An afternoon in two acts
The program is divided into two parts. In the first, local experts will offer an overview of Bologna’s labor market and its future transformations. Francesca Villani from Bologna for Talent will speak about the growth and attractiveness of the metropolitan area, while Eleonora Sette from ART-ER will outline career opportunities for talent across Emilia-Romagna. There will also be room for the bureaucratic side of things: Lorenzo Belloi from the Immigration Office of the Bologna Police Headquarters will explain in detail the procedures for converting a student residence permit into a work permit — one of the most complex hurdles for anyone looking to build a life in the city after graduation.
In the second part, the focus shifts to concrete opportunities. Horacio Galli from Coesia and Lucia Barbara Silvestri from Bologna Airport will discuss what profiles and skills local companies are currently seeking. Two international Unibo alumni who now work at local firms — Mine Karaaslan, Business Analyst at CRIF, and Bahaa Eddin Nmaji, Direct Customer Specialist at Coloplast — will then share their personal experiences of life and career in Bologna. The evening closes with a networking aperitif.
Why this matters
Bologna is not just one of the world’s oldest universities: it is also a fast-evolving economic and productive ecosystem, with a business community increasingly in search of qualified, international profiles. Events like this one show that the city does not simply want to attract students for the duration of their studies — it aims to keep them as part of its workforce and as citizens.
Attendance is free, but spaces are limited. The event is reserved for international students enrolled in the final years of their degree at the University of Bologna.
Registration is open via this form
HERE THE PROGRAMM
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