Student Well-being at Ca'Foscari University of Venice

Ca’ Foscari University of Venice is deeply committed to creating an academic and social environment where all students feel supported, included, and valued. This dedication is manifested in a wide range of initiatives and programmes designed to prioritize mental health, equality, and personal growth, reflecting the university's core values of inclusivity and respect for diversity. Through innovative projects, partnerships, and accessible resources, student well-being is not merely a priority but a cornerstone of Ca’ Foscari’s mission.

Alias Career: A Step Towards Inclusivity  

The Alias Career initiative allows individuals to adopt a provisional identity aligned with their chosen name, enabling them to navigate university life authentically. This step reflects our University’s commitment to creating a welcoming environment that respects diversity, privacy and dignity. The Alias Career ensures that every member of Ca’ Foscari’s community —regardless of gender identity— can fully participate in academic and professional activities without discomfort or discrimination.  

Spazio Ascolto: A Safe Space for Students  

Reaching out for assistance is a sign of strength, not weakness. For students facing academic pressures, social challenges, or personal struggles, we offer Spazio Ascolto - the ‘Listening Space’. This free counseling service, staffed by professional psychologists, provides a confidential space for students to address issues like anxiety, stress, or a lack of motivation, knowing their privacy is fully respected.  

Students can explore their feelings, gain insight into their challenges, and develop strategies to overcome them. Whether it’s exam stress, difficulties in socializing, or concerns about mental health, Spazio Ascolto is there to offer support.   

The ESU CUORI Centre  

ESU Venezia, the regional agency responsible for supporting the right to education, offers services through CUORI, the Guidance and Psychological Counselling Centre, in collaboration with Ca’ Foscari’s Orientation and Tutoring Service. These initiatives aim to promote individual well-being throughout the university experience and to prevent student dropouts. The ESU Cuori Centre currently provides psychological counselling, counselling to improve learning effectiveness, reorientation support, group workshops and reading material.  

A New Network on Mental Health  

Ca’ Foscari has recently formalized a significant partnership with local institutions, including ULSS 3 Serenissima (Venice's public health service) to create a mental health network. This collaboration aims to streamline and enhance the services available to the academic community, promoting both preventive measures and targeted interventions for mental health challenges.  

Key objectives of the network include sharing best practices among institutions, conducting joint research to identify emerging needs, organizing mental health awareness events and training sessions and expanding access to psychological and wellness services for students and staff.  This initiative exemplifies a proactive approach to addressing mental health issues, ensuring a coordinated response to the evolving needs of young people.   

The PRISMA Project  

PRISMA (Promote Individual and Social Resources in the Academic World, University for Well-Being) is a research project and a set of initiatives, tools and solutions, conceived by a network of eight Italian universities - including Ca' Foscari University. With funding from the Ministry of University and Research, PRISMA seeks to investigate the root causes of psychological distress among students, develop tools to foster emotional resilience and promote healthier lifestyles within the academic community.  

As part of PRISMA research, Ca’ Foscari has recently organized the LiberaMente Creative Music Lab, where students could create music collaboratively in a supportive environment, exploring new forms of expression while learning to manage emotions related to performance. A second workshop was instead focused on managing competition, overcoming insecurities, and navigating university life with greater assurance.  

QR Your Rights: Support Made Easy

In a digital age where quick access to information is crucial, Ca’ Foscari has implemented the QR Your Rights initiative to further promote inclusion, safety and well-being in our community. QR codes displayed across all university venues provide instant access to essential resources, such as emergency contact numbers if you feel in danger, support contacts for study or work-related issues, reporting channels for inappropriate behaviour, harassment and discrimination, resources for psychological support, and information about your rights.