The transversal nature of knowledge, the contamination as means to reach a new Italian rebirth that will not betray the Italian value heritage but that will make change possible. It’s a sort of manifesto, the one that Gaetano Manfredi, Minister of University and Research presents at Giffoni. An extremely ambitious challenge because, if put into effect, it could revolutionise one of the pillars on which our country is founded: education and expertise, the stepping stone of self-realisation and the building of a community.The director Claudio Gubitosi, who strongly wanted his presence at #Giffoni50, the Mayor Antonio Giuliano, Pietro Rinaldi, the President of Ente Autonomo, and Alfonso Andria, on the Board of Directors of Ente Autonomo, welcomed the Minister.

"In September - the Minister declared - we are starting again face to face, and this is the result of a very intense organisational work. Classrooms will be half full, and an integration of face-to-face classes and online classes will be put into practice. Of course there will be social distancing and the use of masks in the classrooms. Our aim is to favour freshers because we must give them the opportunity of understanding how university works. The older students will have more online classes to attend. We have been really careful with technology and with the wiring of classrooms. This will also allow foreign students who, due to travelling limitations, cannot be in Italy to attend classes. Reopening the University face to face is an important moment, taking students back to classrooms means planting a seed for the future. It is true that we are experiencing a difficult moment, but it is also an extraordinary one, an opportunity for humanity to change, a time when it is possible to rethink our society. In order to do that we need the kids’ creativity, the cohesion of the community, the active contribution of universities, just as it was during the emergency phase”.

The hardships during the lockdown were numerous. Minister Manfredi is aware of that: “I cannot deny - he continued - that those who were in this situation have been seriously affected but we have to try our best in order to turn this hardship into an opportunity. Therefore, we are developing important initiatives, such as the possibility of doing internships at a greater distance from the graduation date compared to the current situation. We will seriously make an effort in order to increase and improve post lauream opportunities in order to give more possibilities to young people".

Then research, cross and delight for Italy. We are not short on talent, what is often missing are opportunities. But Italy must be there, just as it is happening for the testing of an anti-Covid vaccine: “The Minister of University and Research - Manfredi explained - is very committed and supports the testing with the Spallanzani project, both financially and structurally, as it happens for all the Italian initiatives regarding new vaccines and new medications. Italy had to make an attempt to create a vaccine, also to have a prominent position as far as health and research are concerned. We are also supporters of the Oxford project, where an Italian influence can be found as well. This is why our country will be in the forefront with vaccines thanks to the great commitment of the Italian researchers. This is an example of how research can actually help people, it is a good teaching for the future”.

The debate moved to sala Blu for the Giffoni Impact. There was a continuous exchange of questions and insights. The questions the Giffoners asked the Minister were really interesting and he did not elude anything. The Covid-19 theme was present but there was also the chance to talk about the future, to glimpse an opportunity, a light in the darkness of the pandemic: “Our University - the Minister explained - is 1000 years old and it has gone through epidemics and catastrophes but it is still here. There are unchangeable values, like free and open knowledge that allowed humanity to evolve. During these months we have experienced how things can change, things that appeared to be unchangeable. University must be the soul of change. I am really confident about this".

The end of the speech is a hymn to hope: “We need a new rebirth - the Minister concluded - We are in times of change and we need to look at the bigger picture. I strongly believe in that. I hope that we can make this change, but we need to do it together with a collective effort. We must give young people the best we can. This is how we educate them, by giving them great opportunities. I am from a small province, my family does not have an academic background . I was Dean and now I am Minister. Therefore, it seems clear how central the theme of opportunities is to me. And this is what I would like to be remembered for my experience in the government: that I created new opportunities”.