The 2024–2025 academic year has concluded with extremely positive results for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma. It was a year defined by significant educational achievements, international recognition, scientific exchange opportunities, and a strong focus on pedagogical innovation and internationalization.
The academic year began with an official inauguration ceremony that saw the enthusiastic participation of students, faculty, and healthcare professionals. This symbolic event reaffirmed the mission of the Master’s programs: to train highly qualified professionals capable of responding to the complex challenges of the healthcare system through an interdisciplinary and global approach.
One of the most notable milestones of the year was the first official graduation ceremony for the Healthcare Master’s Programs. More than just a celebration, the event recognized the value of the training journey undertaken by healthcare professionals from across Italy.
Throughout the year, numerous opportunities arose for professional development and international dialogue. Distinguished guests, including Professor Sharon Brownie, Full Professor of Nursing at Swinburne University, Melbourne, Australia, and Professor Tais Vernaglia, Director of the “Alfredo Pinto” Nursing School at the Federal University of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (University of São Paulo, Brazil), led high-impact workshops on global health leadership, transformative health education, and patient engagement. Their contributions further strengthened the international profile of the Master’s programs.
A major step forward in advanced training and internationalization was the integration of English-language workshops across all Master’s curricula. These sessions aimed to enhance communication skills in globalized, multicultural clinical environments, further boosting the European and transnational positioning of the programs.
To support continuous improvement in teaching quality, a training course for educational tutors was introduced. This course aims to uphold excellent pedagogical standards and promote innovative teaching methods centered on simulation, empathy, and student-centered learning.
Special attention was also given to theoretical and practical advances in nursing. Events included the presentation of the book on Marisa Cantarelli’s nursing model, organized in collaboration with Rede Unida and the National Association of Brazilian Nurses. This initiative offered an important moment of reflection on a foundational theoretical model for Italian nursing practice, which remains highly relevant today.
Among the year’s most significant initiatives was the launch of the advanced training course for Infection Control Link Nurses (ICLN), developed in response to the growing need to train healthcare professionals with specific expertise in preventing and managing healthcare-associated infections. The course has generated strong interest and promises to be a great success thanks to its large and engaged cohort.
In the scientific arena, students and tutors of the Master’s programs played a key role at the CEU 2025 Congress, contributing original work on topics such as nursing leadership, digital education, and innovation in postgraduate training.
Crowning an already fulfilling year, Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow of the European Transcultural Nursing Association (ETNA). This recognition acknowledges his longstanding commitment to promoting transcultural care, inter-university collaboration, and the development of international educational projects.
The 2024–2025 academic year was thus a period of substantial growth in reputation, quality, and international engagement for the Healthcare Master’s Programs at the University of Parma, solidifying their role as a leading reference point in postgraduate healthcare education.
Professor Antonio Bonacaro, Director of the Healthcare Master’s Programs, stated:
“Looking back, I can only express deep gratitude for the vision and dedication of Professor Leopoldo Sarli and Dr. Giovanna Artioli, whose contributions from the very beginning were instrumental in the creation and development of these Master’s programs. Today, we see a vibrant, international academic community—one that is innovative and responsive to the challenges of the healthcare system. We envision the future as a laboratory of ideas, open to the world, where education becomes a tool for social and professional transformation. It is with this spirit that we prepare to face the challenges of the coming academic year. I take this opportunity to wish a wonderful summer to all faculty, tutors, and students whose ongoing contributions make these Master’s programs a true path of excellence”.
With a clear eye on the future, the Master’s programs are now gearing up to tackle the new academic year with renewed enthusiasm, strategic vision, and a strong spirit of innovation—driven by a dynamic, cohesive, and globally-oriented academic community.
