An Opportunity That Transforms Lives

“There is no better way to put into practice the constitutional principles governing the enforcement of sentences — which are intended to always give incarcerated people a second chance — than by offering them a real opportunity to change their lives through education and entry into the workforce,” says Marta Cartabia, Bocconi’s Dean for Social Engagement and Institutional Affairs, describing the spirit that has driven the Bocconi Prison Project for the past 10 years. Launched in 2016 by then-Rector Andrea Sironi as part of the Community and Social Engagement program, and strongly promoted by Salvatore Vicari, now Professor Emeritus of Technology and Innovation Management, the project gives incarcerated people in Italian prisons the opportunity to enroll in the Bachelor of Science in Economia aziendale e management program (CLEAM), provided they pass the admissions test and are able to transfer to Opera or Bollate Prison.

The University covers all tuition and fees, provides textbooks, recorded lectures and tutoring, organizes exam and graduation sessions in prison and, whenever possible, helps graduates take their first steps toward job interviews with employers. “This initiative fully reflects the spirit of Bocconi’s founders,” Cartabia says, “because it keeps our focus on the local community, the social dimension of university life and students from less privileged backgrounds.”

“The Bachelor of Science offered through the Prison Project is part of the Economia aziendale program,” adds Pietro Andrea Bianchi Fedrigoni, the current CLEAM Program Director, who succeeded Angelo Ditillo and Carlo Salvato in the role. “It is still Bocconi’s most popular Bachelor, the only one taught in Italian and the one that most naturally serves as a driver of social mobility. It offers access to Bocconi to people in Italy who, for a variety of reasons, may start from a less privileged position — because of where they come from or simply because they do not have the language proficiency required for a Bachelor of Science program taught entirely in English.”

Students Like Any Other Students

Once they enter the program, students in the Bocconi Prison Project are treated in almost every way like their peers: they study the same subjects, meet the same deadlines and take the same written and oral exams. They do not, of course, attend classes on campus, but they follow a series of recorded lectures, while faculty members go to the prisons to hold exams.

Over the past 10 years, 33 students have been admitted to the program out of 147 applicants, and six have completed the three-year program and earned their degree. “From my perspective, that last figure is the one that matters most,” Fedrigoni says. “The success stories of those who manage to graduate and reintegrate into society give meaning to the entire project and to Bocconi’s commitment to it. Even if only one in 10 succeeded, it would still be worth it.”

“As a university, our goal is always to give students the best possible conditions to complete their studies and graduate,” agrees Dean Cartabia. “I also believe, however, that even when this does not happen — perhaps because a student is transferred or because an incarcerated person needs to work to support themselves in prison or contribute to supporting their family — the time spent studying still has enormous personal value. The program allows people to challenge themselves in an environment that is unfamiliar to many of them and to discover or rediscover abilities they may not have known they had. One of the greatest difficulties for us is convincing prospective students to embrace this opportunity because they often do not believe in themselves. We actually need to strengthen our awareness-raising efforts to encourage more incarcerated people to give themselves a chance through education.”

The 10-Year Anniversary and the Challenges Ahead

The project’s 10-year anniversary, which will be marked with an event at Bocconi on 22 September, is an opportunity to both highlight the results achieved by the Prison Project and reflect on areas for improvement. Some of these inevitably involve prison administrations, which are essential partners in the initiative’s success. “Our hope is that we can find a shared solution, for example, to bridge the technology gap between students studying on campus — who have access to all available digital tools — and these students — who still have to work largely with analog methods,” Professor Fedrigoni says. Even relatively simple measures could make a difference.

“Considering the overcrowding that often affects prison cells, even one additional study room where students can concentrate can make a real difference,” says Elisabetta Genovese, Administrative Coordinator of the Bocconi Prison Project. For students enrolled in the project, however, employment is often the most attractive alternative to studying. “Many of the people who drop out of the program have children or need to support themselves while serving their sentences, so they choose to invest their time in working instead.”

Employment Beyond Prison Walls

At the same time, the opportunity to enter the workforce outside prison is one of the key benefits of the Bocconi Prison Project. Although this transition can be complex, it can make a real difference in supporting integration after incarceration. Over the years, several companies have embraced the initiative, including Nestlé, Nespresso and Redion.

“For us, creating value also means contributing to the wellbeing of the communities in which we operate,” says Giorgio Norza, Chief People Officer at Redion Italia, formerly Europ Assistance, where two graduates of the Prison Project now work. “Offering a tangible professional opportunity to people who have undertaken a path of accountability and reintegration allows them to once again play an active role, build new relationships and have their contribution recognized.” Their onboarding follows the same professional and organizational standards applied to every new colleague, while timelines and arrangements are adapted where necessary to take account of each individual’s circumstances and the requirements connected with their specific situation. “This approach is not related to their past,” Norza emphasizes. “It is the same consideration we extend to everyone and stems from our desire to respect each person’s individual circumstances and, in this particular case, to provide tangible support for reintegration. At this stage, it is essential, for example, to protect privacy and prevent any form of stigma, so that each person is recognized for their skills, commitment and the contribution they can make within a professional environment based on trust and responsibility.”

Building Networks to Expand Impact

The positive experience of the Bocconi Prison Project over the past 10 years has not remained confined to the initiative itself, but has strengthened the University’s commitment to developing other projects for people in the prison system. These include the Legal Clinics, a service organized by Criminal Law Professor Melissa Miedico in which Law students provide incarcerated people with free legal advice and assistance.

“In recent months, we have also signed an Agreement with the Court of Milan to welcome to Bocconi a number of people serving non-custodial sentences, specifically individuals sentenced to perform community service,” Cartabia says. “Last but not least, we are working with the other universities involved in the National Conference of University Delegates for Prison University Programs (CNUPP) to lay the groundwork for establishing a prison university hub that brings together educational opportunities for incarcerated people. Only by building networks will we be able to achieve a more significant impact on these people’s lives and on the country as a whole."