Enhancing the digital experience: InsubriaPlay and new services for the university community

The University of Insubria continues its journey of digital innovation and enhancement of online services through the consolidation of its Web Ecosystem, an integrated system that brings together portals, applications, content and digital services for students, faculty, staff and the wider community.

To support this ongoing development, the University has formally established the Web Ecosystem Coordination and Steering Hub, responsible for ensuring a consistent approach to content management, editorial coordination and integration across the University's digital platforms. The Hub operates in line with the University's 2024–2030 Strategic Plan and its information management policies. It is coordinated by Professor Sabrina Sicari, with the support of Deputy Coordinators Flavio Saturno and Luca Mondini, and brings together administrative and technological expertise to ensure a coherent and integrated approach to content governance and digital services.

This coordinated effort has already produced tangible results, including the reorganisation of departmental websites, the enhancement of English-language content, the review and updating of regulations and web content, the publication of thematic FAQs, improved search engine visibility and the development of student-focused digital tools such as the university fees simulator.

The aim is to create an increasingly accessible digital environment by reducing information fragmentation and improving the user experience through an integrated network of services that includes the institutional website, the Course Catalogue, UniFind, departmental websites and dedicated web applications.

Introducing InsubriaPlay, the University's video platform

Among the most recent initiatives within the University's Web Ecosystem is InsubriaPlay, the new institutional platform dedicated to collecting, organising and showcasing the University's video content.

The platform has been designed as a single access point for the University's audiovisual productions, offering content related to teaching, research, science communication, services and institutional events.

Available content also includes the twelve-episode documentary series Twelve Stories of Science, created in collaboration with Alessandro Cecchi Paone to showcase the University's research activities through projects and first-hand accounts from faculty members and researchers. Today, this valuable collection offers new students and anyone interested in learning more about the University an opportunity to explore Insubria's academic excellence within a single digital environment.

Unlike commercial video platforms, InsubriaPlay provides an advertising-free environment designed to enhance content accessibility and user engagement. The platform also features advanced search, indexing, transcription and automatic captioning tools, improving both accessibility and discoverability of published materials.

Content is organised into thematic playlists and, for selected service-related areas, members of the academic community can access reserved materials through institutional authentication.

Gerry Scotti's honorary degree ceremony now available online

Among the first highlights available on InsubriaPlay is the full recording of the ceremony during which Gerry Scotti was awarded an honorary Master's Degree in Communication Sciences and Techniques, held on 15 June in the Aula Magna on Via Ravasi in Varese.

The publication of this event offers a concrete example of the platform's potential to preserve, promote and make accessible some of the most significant moments in the University's academic life.

Through the continued development of its Web Ecosystem and the launch of InsubriaPlay, the University of Insubria reaffirms its commitment to delivering innovative digital services that support teaching, research, communication and community engagement.