On the eve of the election of the new rector, students at the University of Sassari are clearly identifying their priorities for the next six-year term: more spaces for studying, longer opening hours for classrooms and libraries, greater opportunities for mobility, and closer ties with the city and the world of work.

More seats and longer opening hours

In the courtyard of the Faculty of Law, just a few days before classes begin, the election is not yet at the center of conversations. But when services and university life come up, there is a shared request: “There should be more spaces where students can study”.

The university’s Student Hubs have expanded their offering in recent years. At the Quadrilatero site on viale Mancini, there are 22 seats in the gazebo, 70 on the first floor and 32 on the ground floor. The University also indicates that the hubs are open from Monday to Friday, from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on weekends at the Quadrilatero Student Hub. For many students, however, demand still exceeds the number of available seats, especially for those who come from outside the city and cannot rely on suitable conditions for concentrating at home.

The request also concerns access times: “It would be great if not only the spaces could be expanded, but also the opening hours and days of the study rooms and libraries”, observes a student of Economics and Management. One of the facilities mentioned as having greater potential for use is the Piandanna site, considered spacious but still not fully utilized.

More connections abroad

The second priority identified by students concerns international opportunities. The aim is to strengthen exchanges not only with European universities, but also with universities overseas and academic institutions located in major cities and capitals. The hope is to expand the educational, professional and social experiences available to those studying in Sardinia.

“There is a need for more contacts with the outside world, more contacts with foreign and Italian universities, but also with businesses outside Sardinia”, emphasizes a Communication student. In this context, internships are seen as playing an important role: they are viewed as tools for discovering other environments and bringing back to the island skills and experiences that can help create new employment opportunities.

One proposal is also to make it easier to include an internship in the undergraduate Economics degree program, as already happens in other courses and in the master’s program. Teaching is viewed positively, but students are calling for more opportunities to participate in research activities and engage with the business community.

A university more integrated with Sassari

The final request concerns the relationship with the city. Sassari is described as welcoming, but with room for improvement in terms of inclusion, support for those arriving from other areas, and activities to be carried out beyond the campuses. Students’ needs thus form part of the debate on the university’s future, including its international standing.

The first vote to choose the rector for the 2026–2032 six-year term is scheduled for Monday, September 21, 2026, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with online voting. Further rounds, if necessary, are scheduled for September 23, with runoffs on September 28 and 30.