An International University, from Exchange Students to Alumni

The nine thousand kilometers traveled last year by Cesar Righetti and Marcio Moraes to come to the MBA Reunion (more about that in the ViaSarfatti25 online magazine) are a testament to the value they attribute to their studies in Milan and to the relationships they have built with fellow students and with the wider network of Bocconi alumni. But at the same time, the names of these two alumni show just how far the process of internationalization at Bocconi has come. At first, the dozens of nationalities and foreign names were a feature of exchange programs, then many international students began to enroll in Bocconi's Bachelor and Master programs to take an entire course of studies here in Milan. And for quite a few years now, names hailing from every continent have become common among those who have graduated and don't want to lose touch with their alma mater or the people with whom they shared one of the most significant experiences of their lives. For these people, the obvious choice is to join BAA and to actively participate in alumni community life. It is no coincidence that two of the last five Alumni of the Year are non-Italians and 11 of the 53 BAA chapters abroad have a foreign leader. And these leaders are not always citizens of the host country: a German alum, Peter Schulten, heads the chapter in Shanghai, China and an Argentine, Tomás Barrandeguyi, heads the one in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Andrea Sironi, Rector