Italian talent? They need to go and gain experience abroad and then come back. Later. The theory comes from Anna Maria Bernini, Minister of University and Research. Speaking at Farnesina at the promotional event of “Progetto Turismo delle Radici” funded by Pnrr, he revealed his “plan” for the Italian talent.
The words of Minister Bernini, “The brain drain from Italy must not be dried up, it must be implemented, the main challenge is to bring them back stronger than before and what we have to do is give them reasons to go beyond patriotism”, his words. Honestly, it’s a challenge that seems dangerous given that highly skilled people find more affordable jobs and higher salaries abroad rather than in Italy.
According to the latest Istat data, more than 1 million people were deported from Italy in the decade 2012-2021, and about a quarter of them have a university degree. The difference between repatriation of young graduates and their departure abroad is consistently negative, resulting in an overall loss of more than 79,000 young graduates over the entire term. In 2021, there was a decline in the flow of young graduates abroad for the first time due to the general decline in outflows. On the other hand, the share of graduates in the total number of young expats did not decrease and remained stable (from 45.6% in 2020 to 45.7% in 2021).
The need to “implement” the brain drain – only then to bring them back in the uncertain future – is associated by the minister with the appreciation of roots and tourism. The “Tourism of Roots Project” encompasses five ministries and 600 Municipalities to restart tourism in Italy and enriches small villages where second, third and fourth generation Italians abroad can return to rediscover their roots and culture. And to become “ambassadors” in the countries where they live, to persuade foreigners to visit Italy. “Roots tourism is a “very important crossroads” for the sector, because it “targets an estimated service area of around 80 million people, there are many second- and third-generation Italians living abroad,” said Tourism Minister Daniela Santanchè. Italy also “can strongly support it.” ” wants to take advantage of the education system. Hence the intervention of Minister Bernini, for whom the university is already moving towards becoming “a channel to strengthen our roots.” According to Bernini, “universities, research institutes and advanced arts, music and dance education can help internationalization and can contribute to the development of the project”. The university “bring Italy to the world, the world to Italy”, “research abroad, speaking Italian with deeper roots than these”.
Source: Today IT

Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.