(ANS – Mestre) – Professionals from the San Patrignano community, the largest drug-dependency recovery centre in Europe, will be studying at the Salesian University Institute, Venice (IUSVE). Students likewise, attending the Mestre University, will be able to do work experience with the San Patrignano community, which is located at Rimini. This was established in an agreement signed last Friday, 25th October.

The memorandum of understanding, also signed by CNOS-FAP (the Salesian body which oversees professional updating and education) calls for IUSVE to become the point of reference for preparation of new professional workers, the professional development and re-qualification of management, technical and educational personnel employed at San Patrignano. For its part IUSVE can send their undergraduates in Psychology and Education and Masters Degree students in Criminology to the Community

IUSVE, along with the Community, agrees to promote scientific and educational events focused on the new welfare culture, and other events creating awareness of topics of common interest. CNOS-FAP, meanwhile, in collaboration with IUSVE, will make available its experience in developing offers in professional formation on behalf of guests of the Community.

A further question in the understanding regards the post-secondary education scene, creating at S. Patrignano a course in accredited professional specialisation, a pilot 'education complex' of personnel services which the Salesian university will offer it support to.

“We are happy to collaborate with a body such as San Patriganano, one of the more significant Italian and European experiences in the drug-dependency field in educational and social welfare terms”, said Prof. Arduino Salatin, the UISVE President. “It will be a stimulating and profitable partnership for us, seeing the readiness they have shown to be involved in action-research and formation of their professionals. We can certainly offer them the best we have in scientific and cultural skills.”

“For us it is a fundamental collaboration which allows us to take a step forward,” explained Antonio Tinelli, coordinator of the social committee running San Patrignano. IUSVE will allow us to form new educators and the young people, offering them one further tool for when they move back into society. As well as this we can offer our experience to the university's trainees and it becomes one more occasion for our Community to open itself up to those around us.”

Published 28/10/2013