Sustainability

Volunteering arises from a person's spontaneous choice to offer a free, selfless service to individuals or a community, dedicating time, expertise, and passion. To respond effectively to the demands placed on volunteers, possessing an adequate foundation of personal, technical, domain-specific, and transferable skills is increasingly necessary. Designed to impart this knowledge—thereby qualifying volunteers and bringing new skills to the non-profit sector—the 'University of Volunteering' project was established in 2014 as an integral part of the broader 'Ca' Foscari Social' university initiative. The project relies on active collaboration between Ca' Foscari University of Venice and the Coordination of Volunteer Associations of the Province of Treviso through shared educational planning. 

What it is

The University of Volunteering is an educational pathway designed for active volunteers or those wishing to become one. The course spans one academic year and takes place at the Treviso Campus facility in Palazzo San Paolo – Riviera Santa Margherita 76. The curriculum includes distinct modules with awarded academic credits that contribute toward the total required for a Certificate of Attendance. 

Who can participate

The project is aimed at prospective volunteers, active volunteers, members of voluntary organizations (volunteer associations, social promotion associations, ONLUS, clubs, and Third Age Universities), students in training, and interested citizens seeking to build or strengthen their commitment to the non-profit sector. For Ca' Foscari students, credit (CFU) recognition within individual degree programs is available, subject to evaluation of the training pathway by the Teaching Board. 

Open courses

Specialized lectures are open to all: University of Volunteering attendees, local organization volunteers, citizens, and interested students. These lectures are innovative, engaging, practical, directly applicable within one's organization, and valuable for personal growth. They are scheduled throughout the academic year, primarily taking place in the afternoon. Led by trainers from Volontarinsieme - CSV Treviso, university professors, and experts from research bodies, for-profit companies, and other third-sector entities, these courses are designed to enhance the thinking and actions of those working to foster social cohesion in our communities. Attendance is free and open to all. Enrolment is open year-round by sending an email to formazione@trevisovolontariato.org.

Treviso Campus students can acquire sustainability competencies as part of their studies through volunteer activities, earning 1 extracurricular CFU (academic credit) that will be recorded in their academic record and included in their transcript of records. Through activities leading to credit acquisition, students gain deeper insight into one of the many facets of sustainability, broadening their expertise in a field to which the business world is paying increasing attention. Interested students must agree on the topic and framework with the faculty coordinator—Prof. Annalisa Colombino. Eligible activities range from attending seminars and workshops to conducting literature or scientific research, or carrying out field activities individually or in groups. Upon completion, students must submit a final assignment to the coordinator, such as a paper or another output (e.g., a report or short video), corresponding to the workload of 1 CFU. Examples of topics and assignment types completed by Treviso Campus students to earn sustainability credit include:

• Event Sustainability – ISO 20121 Certification': Term paper by Djamila Baroni 
• Treviso – Sustainable Campus': Term paper by Katia Soccal, based on survey results from Treviso Campus students 
• Strategies for Reducing Bottled Water Consumption':Project presented by Valentina Platzgummer for the 'My Sustainable Campus' competition 

Students who earn this CFU are formally acknowledged during the graduation ceremony in Treviso and receive a certificate printed on Shiro Alga Paper, kindly provided by Favini srl. 

This initiative is open to all users (students, faculty, contract instructors, research fellows, scholars, PhD candidates, etc.) to promote cultural exchange while supporting the University's sustainability efforts. 

Do not let your books sit silently on your shelves at home or in boxes in the basement: turn them back into a valuable resource to inspire other minds and actively contribute to improving society.