Proben 2 Project: the University of Insubria presents sustainable prevention and intervention strategies for the psychological well-being of the academic community

On Tuesday 23 June, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., the University of Insubria is organizing in Varese, in the Aula Magna on via Ravasi, the conference of the Proben 2 project entitled The University for Psychological Well-being. Sustainable Strategies for Prevention and Intervention at the University of Insubria.

The event is promoted by Professor Camilla Callegari, the Rector’s Delegate for policies concerning Disability and psychological well-being, and by the Insubria Office for Inclusion Services and the Promotion of Psychological Well-being, directed by Dr Francesca Zappa, within the framework of the project supported by the Ministry of University and Research.

Proben 2 aims to continue, integrate and complete the previous Proben 1 project through the implementation of actions and interventions for the prevention, identification and management of situations of particular distress and difficulty. During the academic year, there has been broad feedback marked by lively and widespread participation in the proposed activities by students, teaching staff, and technical, administrative and library staff.

The University’s participation in Proben has made it possible to develop activities structured around several lines of action: investigation into well-being and distress within the university population; good intervention practices to reduce the impact of gender stereotypes and multiple discrimination; promotion of conditions of well-being and socio-emotional skills; well-being and learning difficulties; identification of problematic situations; interventions for situations of malaise, distress and addiction.

The conference offers an opportunity to share with the entire academic community and interested members of the public the experiences that have been carried out and the results achieved, and to reflect together on the future of well-being at the University.

The day opens at 8:30 a.m. with participant registration. At 9 a.m., institutional greetings are scheduled from Rector Maria Pierro.

At 9:15 a.m., this will be followed by an introduction from Professors Camilla Callegari, Delegate for policies concerning Disability and psychological well-being; Paola Biavaschi, Delegate for Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities; Daniela Dalla Gasperina, Delegate for Teaching and Training; Giorgio Grasso, Delegate for the Right to Education and Substantive Equality; Barbara Pozzo, Delegate for Internationalization; Andrea Uselli, Delegate for Orientation and Placement; and Mauro Fasano, Delegate for Knowledge Valorization.

From 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., the first session is scheduled, dedicated to the project, chaired by Professors Mauro Fasano and Matteo Tozzi.
Speakers include Marco Bellani, with the presentation The Proben Project: Insubria’s Participation from the Beginning to the Present; Eugenia Trotti with The Proben Project – A.Y. 2025-2026; Veronica Velasco on The Proben Project: the Multicentric Survey; and Paola Biavaschi with Line B: Good Intervention Practices for the Prevention of Gender Stereotypes and Multiple Discrimination. A coffee break is scheduled at 10:30 a.m.

From 11 to 11:45 a.m., the second session will take place, dedicated to interventions for the promotion of inclusion and psychological well-being, chaired by Professors Eugenia Trotti and Cristiano Termine.
Scheduled speakers are Camilla Callegari with Prevention and Identification of Distress: the New University Counselling Service; Francesca Zappa on Well-being and Learning Difficulties – Testimony of a Proben 2 Group Tutor; Paola Zavagnin with Mindfulness Protocols Addressed to Students, Teaching Staff, and Technical, Administrative and Library Staff; and Giampiero Merati presenting the report Mind & Move Project.

From 11:45 a.m. to 12 noon, the discussion closing the morning session is scheduled, with Paola Pietribiasi, head of the Student Careers and Inclusion Services Office, as discussant. From 12 noon to 1:30 p.m., a lunch break is scheduled.

Work resumes at 1:30 p.m. with the introduction to the workshops, chaired by Professors Camilla Callegari, Marco Bellani and Eugenia Trotti. Speakers are Stefano Bonometti, with the presentation Proben: From Data to Action. Let’s Involve Students, and Adele Patrini on Imaginative Thoughts for New Prevention Strategies.

From 2:15 to 4 p.m., workshops and group work among students will begin, led by Colete Gallotti, Denise Anastasi, Francesco Sassi, Johnmarco Scupelli and Pierluigi Pezzotta.

From 4 to 5 p.m., a plenary sharing session of the proposals emerging from the workshops is scheduled. In closing, at 5 p.m., there will be the plenary discussion and the closing of the conference together with the afternoon speakers and moderators.

• For information: proben@uninsubria.it