The First Co-design Workshop Report
The first co-desing workshop of CS4Siena was held in Siena November 10, 2023 at the Santa Chiara Lab.
Prior to the workshop, a series of information was collected through a survey circulated among foreign students at the Siena University. Based on the collected information the workshop was co-designed with a success and participation was wide and varied!
Read more in the First workshop 2023 report!
Workshop material downloadable: CS4Siena Workshop n.1
Survey Report: March/April 2024 Results
The CS4Siena March/April 2024 Survey Report presents an analysis of the second survey conducted as part of the CS4Siena project. This survey follows the first co-design workshop held in November 2023 and aims to explore critical aspects of student life in Siena. The survey gathered insights from 67 participants, including both Italian and international students, to assess their experiences regarding:
- Safety and discrimination
- Housing conditions
- Health services accessibility
- Community and civic engagement
- Public transportation satisfaction
- Environmental quality and green spaces
- Employment opportunities
- Overall life satisfaction and future plans
Key Highlights
- Safety: While most students feel safe, concerns were raised about specific areas, particularly around the station and at night.
- Housing: International students reported more challenges and dissatisfaction compared to their Italian counterparts.
- Health: A significant disparity exists in the use of healthcare services between Italian and international students, with barriers like language and system unfamiliarity cited.
- Cultural Integration: Many international students feel less integrated into Siena’s social and cultural fabric compared to Italian students.
- Public Transportation: High levels of dissatisfaction were reported across the board, with issues such as availability and reliability emphasized.
- Green Spaces and Environment: Students generally appreciate the quality of Siena’s green spaces.
- Employment: Finding part-time jobs remains challenging, especially for international students.
- Overall Life Satisfaction: Despite challenges, the majority of students express general satisfaction with their life in Siena.
This report provides valuable data for understanding and improving student well-being and inclusivity in Siena.
For a detailed view, download the full report below:
CS4Siena Second Survey Report 2024
Second Workshop: May 17, 2024
The second workshop of the CS4Siena Project took place on May 17, 2024, at the Santa Chiara Lab, University of Siena. This engaging event focused on exploring the experiences of international students in Siena, addressing themes such as integration, well-being, and social life.
Event Highlights:
- The workshop commenced with a Welcome Drink, followed by an introduction to the CS4Siena project and its core themes.
- Presentations by students highlighted key challenges faced by international students, including language barriers, housing discrimination, social integration, and dietary habits.
- Discussions emphasized practical solutions such as increasing Italian language courses, improving housing support, and fostering interaction between students and local communities.
Read the full details in the Second Workshop 2024 Report:
Download the report
Workshop Material
Access the presentation slides and other materials:
CS4Siena Workshop n. 2 Material
Students Designed Posters:
Karina Guadarrama Zepeda ‘Dietary habits of international students’
She analyzed the eating habits of international students in Siena, what prompted them to follow this diet and how the city influences it. The analysis showed that 82.4% do not follow a specific diet, due to both a lack of interest and price considerations. Despite this, the students stated that Siena is well-suited to a ‘green’ diet, also thanks to its local producers. The few students who do follow a particular diet do so for general well-being and to reduce their environmental impact.
The Impact of Siena’s Architecture on University Students – Viktoria Mayr
According to a poster, a study explored how Siena’s medieval architecture influences University of Siena students. Among respondents, 66.6% were female, 66.7% were aged 20-23, and 74% lived in the city for less than a year, with 43% being Erasmus students. Architecture was a significant factor for 27 out of 31 respondents, with 25 students appreciating the city’s cultural and architectural heritage. However, drawbacks included narrow, overcrowded streets and a lack of sunlight and green spaces. The poster concludes that while architecture is impactful, the combination of location, culture, language, cultural offerings, and food significantly influences students’ decisions to study in Siena.
Maxime Simon Fischer “Pack Light, travel right’.
In his research, he analyses the travel choices of international students compared to Italian students and their awareness of the environmental impacts. The aim is to identify the challenges and opportunities for sustainable mobility.
The study found that 89% of students said they were concerned about climate change, although few consider sustainability when making travel choices to return home, despite the University’s incentive program for eco-friendly travel. However, this program does not seem to be well-known or understood by students, either because the incentive programs promoting sustainable travel options are insufficient or the type of communication may be ineffective.
Jérémy Vandenbossche ‘Health and eating habits’
The study investigated how arriving in a new country can affect students’ diet and health.
It emerged that 81.1% of those interviewed changed their diet, also thanks to cheaper snacks. There was an increase in alcohol consumption due to the greater presence of bars frequented by students.
Destination Italia: why students choose Italy for higher education? Or why they don’t… (Aleksandr Gordienko)
The poster starts from the finding that Italy is one of the least attractive countries for international students. 74% of students faced challenges while studying in Italy, mainly due to bureaucracy, housing issues and admin hurdles. However, there are also a lot of positive reasons students decide to study in Italy, such as the rich culture.
Adapting abroad: international students in italian universities (Marion Letort)
This poster aimed to understand the adaptation of internationals students in the Italian university system. The majority of students (40,4%) were satisfied or very satisfied with the university system, and the satisfaction only increased over time. Negative adaptation was linked to chaotic and complex bureaucratic processes.
Students support services satisfaction (Kristina Maximova)
Kristina her poster puts forward student satisfaction of the support services at the university. While she found that a significant amount of students expressed dissatisfaction with the services, she recognised the importance of these services, and provided concrete fields of improvement. These include: a welcome program, information access, and language and cultural awareness training.
Valeriia Vilkina ‘Let’s get a coffee or spritz?’
Valeriia conducted a study on how bars can help students socialize in Siena. She received a total of 38 responses to her questionnaire. It emerged that 70.3% of students believe that bars help international students integrate with other students. Additionally, the bar is perceived as a second home.
How dogs influence students’ mental health – Daria Leontova
According to a poster, a study explored the hypothesis that dogs can help students in Siena to socialise, feel less stressed, and reduce loneliness during their studies. The survey also examined the potential benefits of having dogs on university campuses or dormitories. The participants included 34 students, with a gender distribution of 71.4% female and 28.06% male and an average age of 24. The results indicated positive impacts from interacting with dogs: 46% of respondents reported feeling very happy, 66% said it made them smile, 66% noted an improved mood, 38% felt less stressed, 53% felt happier, 9% felt more spirited, and 19% felt more relaxed. The study concluded that most international students in Siena believe that interactions with dogs positively affect their mood and mental health and that having dogs on campus or in dormitories could help students overcome challenges and socialise better.
No Language, No Life’ presented by Max Fisher
The poster reveals that no international student feels fully integrated, with 58.3% feeling somewhat integrated but still foreign. Despite 79.2% of international students finding the Senese people welcoming, language proficiency still remains a significant barrier. International students proficient in Italian enjoy better psychological well-being and integration, forming more robust social networks with native peers. However, the widespread use of English in Siena and limited opportunities to practice Italian hinder this process. Many international students wish to speak more Italian but lack opportunities, with 54.2% of conversations requiring more than basic Italian. The poster concludes that regular practice of the Italian language is crucial for better integration, suggesting that mixed groups of international and Italian students meet regularly and do language exchanges.
