Networks Of Traditional And Online Universities For A Global Citizenship: Education As A Response To The Refugee And Migrant Crisis

It is a great pleasure for me today to welcome the many rectors, institutional representatives and researchers of the Associati on of Distance Teaching Universities from both Europe and other countries, the Secretary General of ICDE Mr Gard Titlestad, the Rector of the Hamdan Bin Mohammed Smart University in Dubai Mr Mansoor Al Awar, the Italian Minister ofHigher Education, University and Research Ms Stefania Giannini, the president of EADTU Ms Anja Oskamp; a special thanks goes to the Rector of the Pontificai University Antonianum hosting us here, Ms Mery Melone. A university that has a great symbolic value because the Antonianum is the Franciscan University that from its inception in 1887 has set itself the objective to actualize and interpret the message of St. Francis. A message of brotherhood among peoples of different countries and cultures, and the challenge of the third millennium Franciscanism is to establish relationships with people who are increasingly looking for a contact beyond the borders of their world through the Internet. To do so is also born an important collaboration with the University UNINETTUNO.