Università Bocconi

Reflections. You catch it between lectures, in the blur of a passing hallway, or in your campus reflected on a classroom window. Student life is made of these fleeting images: who you were, who you are, and who you are becoming, all layered together. Sometimes clear, sometimes distorted.

What if students became teachers of ?

It's not a joke and not a tool you delegate your work to, but rather an interlocutor that needs to be challenged. This is the vision of underlying the teaching project that Simone Autera (Lecturer at the Bocconi Department of Management and Technology) has developed for the course "The Global Industry of Imaginaries."

The idea is simple, but powerful. Through structured prompts provided by Autera, students guide the AI, evaluate its responses and correct its mistakes. Students set up the conversation framework in which the AI responds as if the were a learner on a range of topics chosen by the students (which are part of the syllabus students are expected to explore in class). The goal is not to obtain perfect answers from the machine, but to strengthen students’ understanding of the course material. Teaching the AI requires them to study, interpret and explain concepts clearly, turning AI into a tool for active learning rather than passive delegation.

The project is based on a broader principle: knowledge is consolidated when you are able to transmit it. As Autera explains, if students are able to teach a concept correctly, it means they have truly understood it. AI then becomes a testing ground for verifying your own understanding. The initiative also places strong emphasis on collaboration. Students work in pairs, discussing responses, comparing interpretations and helping each other fill knowledge gaps. In this sense, the classroom becomes less individual and more collective, bringing back forms of peer learning that are often overlooked.

Students themselves highlighted how the process changed their relationship with AI. Lisa Cancellieri, a third-year BEMACC student, explained that interacting with ChatGPT forced her team to rethink questions, request clearer explanations and apply theoretical concepts to real-world examples. Christian Smeriglia, from the CLEACC program, emphasized that correcting mistakes made by the AI helped consolidate knowledge and reinforced the idea that AI should remain a support tool rather than a replacement for professors.

The broader message goes beyond one course. In a context where many fear that could weaken learning, this experience suggests the opposite. When used with structure and awareness, AI can become a tool for deeper understanding, helping students develop and engage more actively with knowledge. Ultimately, the quality of AI-generated answers still depends on the quality of the questions being asked. And learning how to ask better questions may become one of the most important educational of all.

Bocconi research continues to rank among the strongest universities in Italy. This is the finding of the Final Research Quality Assessment (VQR) 2020–2024 Report, issued by ANVUR, Italian National Agency for the Evaluation of the University and Research System, based on nearly 200,000 scientific publications authored by over 75,000 researchers.

The report confirms our ability not only to produce top-tier research but also to attract international talent and sustain a highly competitive academic model, placing Bocconi at the top nationally with a quality index of 1.15, 15% above the national average.
Even more significant is the IRAS1_2 indicator, at 8.191, which measures the amount of high-quality research produced relative to the university’s size, placing Bocconi well above expectations within the Italian system.

A particularly meaningful result concerns researchers recruited or promoted between 2020 and 2024, for whom Bocconi receives the highest score in Italy. It is a recognition of the people who contribute every day to an international academic environment, bringing diverse perspectives, methods and ideas to our community.

“These results confirm Bocconi’s ability to foster an open, international and meritocratic research environment, where scholars from different backgrounds with one another on the major economic and social transformations of our time,” comments Rector Francesco Billari. “Today, scientific excellence increasingly stems from the convergence of different expertise, interdisciplinary approaches and global networks.”

Across the disciplinary areas assessed by ANVUR, Bocconi ranks first overall in Economics and Statistics and in Mathematics and Computer Science, and second in Political and Social Sciences and in Business and Management. This profile brings together economics, social sciences, data science and artificial intelligence, combining disciplinary depth with methodological rigor.

“University research cannot be limited to scientific output alone,” adds Billari. “Universities also have a responsibility to contribute to public discourse, provide tools for interpreting complexity and train new generations of scholars and professionals capable of having a tangible impact on society.”

The R5 indicator, which measures an institution’s ability to attract competitive international research funding relative to the national average in its fields, places Bocconi first in the Italian university system, with a score of 2.52.

Overall, the 2020–2024 VQR confirms Bocconi among the leading institutions in Italy in economics, management and social sciences. Its position at the top of the rankings highlights not only the quality of its research output, but also its ability to consolidate an international, selective and impact-oriented research model over time.

Between Europe and the United States, investments and businesses continue to intertwine: opportunities remain, as Mariafrancesca Carli, Bocconi Alumna and BDT & MSD Partner, explains.

The relationship between the United States and Europe is defined as a "virtuous osmosis" that the "background noise" generated by politics won’t disrupt. Mariafrancesca Carli, a Bocconi Aalumna, is a Partner at BDT & MSD, an investment bank that focuses on family companies and business founders. From New York, she builds bridges between the two sides of the Atlantic: Ms Carli invests US capital in Europe and advises large European family firms that are seeking to do M&A in the United States. This is an ambitious program in an era of tariffs, global tensions, and relentless volatility.

How do you view Europe from the United States?

With great optimism. Europe boasts a network of solid, independent businesses that represent a great growth opportunity for global capital. American investors aren't just looking at margins, but also at the industrial strength and reputation of European companies, which often possess unique technologies. American consumers are also looking to Europe with great interest, appreciating the authenticity, history, and sustainability of products. The narrative of a family brand, rooted in local area and artisanal quality, is highly appealing.

In this scenario, what are the most interesting sectors?

Beyond luxury and food, pharma is certainly a key industry, with many European companies conducting extensive research having lab facilities in the United States certified by the Food and Drug Administration. Alliances with domestic giants are key to conquering the market; many European companies grow in the US through targeted acquisitions, building a significant industrial presence, adapting to local culture while leveraging their technology.

What is the profile of the perfect company that can make it in the US?

The European market is highly fragmented, yet rich in excellence: companies rooted in manufacturing, technology, mechatronics, or luxury goods, capable of maintaining their local identity while competing globally. A concrete example is our investment in Bologna-based IMA, a world leader in the packaging of pharmaceuticals, or in Charlotte Tilbury, a British cosmetics brand, acquired with the Puig family. These are companies achieving extremely high industrial and technological quality, often built over several generations or by creative entrepreneurs, making them attractive to international markets.

Does the current political context complicate this transatlantic relationship?

The political climate may generate background noise, but in practice, companies are not reducing their presence in the United States. On the contrary, many are choosing to invest more, opening local factories or production facilities to overcome commercial or logistical constraints. Companies see America as a key market for growth, not a place to retreat from.

And from the perspective of US investors, are they putting the brakes on?

No, I would say the opposite. Appetite for Europe remains high, and decisions are based on risk-adjusted returns. Europe is perceived as more fundamentally solid and prudent, and therefore suited for long-term projects. In our portfolio, we continue to balance investments in America and Europe, because valuable opportunities exist on both continents.

What future do you see for Europe?

The question for Europe is: can it continue to grow? The answer, in my opinion, is yes. But only if it can invest in innovation and internationalization. We are already seeing a return of high-level human capital, a renewed interest in productivity linked to artificial intelligence and new organizational models. The future is yet to be defined, but there is a solid foundation, made up of skills, industrial culture, and global openness, which makes Europe an indispensable partner for the United States.

Is collaboration still the key word then?

Exactly. There is a virtuous osmosis between Europe and America, where both markets stand to benefit. Europe brings technology, history, and quality; America offers scale, capital, and growth. When these two forces come together, everyone benefits: businesses, regions, and people.