Let’s go!

This year's activities for the International Students at Bocconi (IS@B) association kicked off last month when 160 students took a trip to Oktoberfest. The group began to act as a meeting point for non-Italian students at Bocconi, both those enrolled in degree programs and exchange students, but welcomes all students interested international issues.

"The association is open all students who have an international outlook," explains Sofia Pietrella, in her 3rd year of the Bachelor in International Economics and Management (BIEM) and President of the association since September. "It doesn't matter what passport you have, it's about your attitude."

The association that turns 5 and boasts 2,500 students on its Facebook page will drive its activities and inititiatives even more this year. The organizational committee, in fact, increased from 10 students last year to 30 this year (with around 20 different nationalities represented). Scheduled activities include a series of touristic trips, evenings organized in Milan, a fundraising activity for Amnesty International and Save the Children, a 5-a-side soccer tournament in the spring and participation in the Alternative Investment Conference at the London School of Economics and the Economics Summit at Warwick University.

With the start of activities this year, the association's monthly publication has also resumed. IS@B News, put together under editor in chief Sissy Lin, has seven journalists contributing this year.

"The idea is to create a network for international students at Bocconi and provide them with useful information," explains Sissy, in her 2nd year of the BIEM. "We put together informtion about campus life, and free time and culture in Milan and Italy. And we even try to explain the Italian mentality and culture in general to help students settle in."