The 2010-11 academic year began on 18 October for Sophia University Institute (IUS) in Loppiano. An original academic institution which draws its inspiration from the spirituality of Chiara Lubich and combines training and research with a way of life consistent with the ideal of unity in diversity.

The ceremony was attended by numerous personalities from the cultural, political and Italian ecclesial community. Bishop Betori, Chancellor of the IUS, said in his speech that “today more than ever it is necessary to seek the truth with passion, which, to be accepted and communicated not only requires intellectual honesty, but the involvement of the whole the person.”

The words of President Piero Coda underscore how at Loppiano intentions are always followed by action. The 54 students in the Master’s Degree program and the 7 enrolled in the Doctoral program, come from 26 different countries. In confirmatin of its intercultural and interdisciplinary openness, starting this year there will be a student from the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and another of the Buddhist faith.

Many agreements with other universities in Italy and abroad were begun this past year. Also, the first batch of students graduated with the title of Master of Science in Fundamentals and Perspectives of a Culture of Unity, in two areas: philosophical-theological and political-economic. The president of the Focolare Movement, Maria Voce, congratulated the new graduates, highlighting how they were “committed, personally and together to enter into and outline the prospects for a culture of unity in  many fields of knowledge.  Her words stressed another feature of the IUS: everyone – faculty, students and the entire staff contribute to the training project of Sophia, in an intense atmosphere of dialogue, while respecting their respective areas of knowledge and responsibility.

During the inauguration the Sophia Foundation was presented whose aim is to support the growth and development of the institute through the granting of awards, scholarships and funding for cultural and educational projects. Sophia University Institute is also planning to expand its curriculum to include courses in Pedagogy and Musicology. Finally, another challenge concerns IUS publications. This year   Universitas Magazine series and Sophia Magazine will accompanied by For-Courses and the Sophia Library series, the latter dedicated to publication of the classics of the culture of unity.