Universitas Mercatorum inaugurates the academic year. Honorary degree to Alberta Ferretti

The inauguration ceremony for the 2025/2026 academic year was held today at Universitas Mercatorum , the university of the Italian Chambers of Commerce of the Multiversity Group , a leader in Italy in the education sector. The event was dedicated to innovation, creativity, and training as strategic levers for the competitiveness of the production system, in a context of global transformation.

The event, chaired by Rector Giovanni Cannata , was attended by representatives from the academic, institutional, and business worlds. During the ceremony, an honorary master's degree in Digital Communication and Marketing was awarded to Alberta Ferretti , Cavaliere del Lavoro (Cavaliere del Lavoro) and Italian fashion entrepreneur, in the presence of Alessandra Micozzi , Dean of the Faculty of Social and Communication Sciences, who delivered the laudatory remarks. The degree recognizes Alberta Ferretti's contribution to promoting Made in Italy and building a business model based on creativity, culture, and social responsibility. "Receiving this honorary Master's Degree is for me an acknowledgement that goes beyond me: it celebrates the value of Made in Italy, the power of creativity, and the responsibility we have as entrepreneurs to represent our culture around the world," says Alberta Ferretti. "I accept this honor with profound emotion, as an invitation to continue engaging with the new generations. Digital communication has transformed the way we talk about fashion, but not its fundamental values: authenticity, beauty, and respect for human labor. I deeply believe that fashion is a universal language capable of uniting aesthetics, ethics, and vision."

Giovanni Cannata, Rector of Universitas Mercatorum, commented: "The awarding of this honorary degree represents not only a well-deserved personal recognition for Alberta Ferretti, for the authentic value and beauty she has created through her creations, but also a tribute to the great cultural, creative, and entrepreneurial heritage that Italian fashion embodies around the world. Universitas Mercatorum consolidates its role as a cutting-edge digital university, created by businesses for businesses, and committed to reducing educational and social inequalities through accessible, high-quality, and inclusive education. Innovation and knowledge are fundamental tools for promoting a more equitable, competitive, and sustainable society. I wish all our students, true protagonists of change, a joyful start to this new academic year."

During the ceremony, Giuliano Amato , professor emeritus of the University of Rome "La Sapienza" and the European University Institute, delivered the Lectio Magistralis titled "The Formation of the Ruling Class." In his address, he reflected on the role of knowledge in times of accelerated change and how universities represent a fundamental element in the formation of a competent and civic-minded ruling class. "Today, the fundamental processes that once took place within political parties are missing from the formation of the ruling class. The constituent assembly's plan saw the preparation of intermediate classes as the key to managing common interests," Amato added. "This mechanism has become blurred because intermediate groups are drowned out by the chatter of social media, which dominates communication. This turns citizens not into the ruling class, but into influencers. The educators of knowledge, universities, and schools of excellence are still central, even if skills are being diverted towards professional or business activities, leaving the management of common affairs to others."

The institutional greetings of Luciano Violante , president of Multiversity, Fabio Vaccarono , CEO of Multiversity and president of Universitas Mercatorum, and Andrea Prete , president of Unioncamere, underlined the shared mission of an open, dynamic and innovation-oriented education system. "We at Mercatorum and Multiversity could confine ourselves to our successes and our prestigious achievements; but we would be failing in our duty to the country. The university world cannot be considered a system of monads, an institution disconnected from others. We need synergy, quality, and a spirit of service. To be present at the frontiers of development—energy, space, the seabed, and digital—adequate human capital training is required," Violante stated. "Therefore, strong cooperation is needed among all high-quality universities, public and private, analog and digital, setting aside divisions and leveraging what unites us: providing an adequate education to the younger generations. We must stubbornly find a way to dialogue and build together; we have a duty and a responsibility to do so."

"With artificial intelligence, combining creativity and digital skills lays the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive future. This blend of ingenuity and sensitivity characterizes Alberta Ferretti's approach, a union between business and culture, and Professor Giuliano Amato's vision, placing education at the heart of freedom and social cohesion. Mercatorum University interprets this dialogue between innovation and tradition, supporting students and businesses in building the future," emphasized Fabio Vaccarono , CEO of Multiversity and President of Universitas Mercatorum.

"Universitas Mercatorum is a benchmark for the online university system and beyond. We, as Unioncamere, are convinced that in this historical moment, the possession of knowledge is more important than the ownership of the means of production, and the preparation of human capital is the most important factor within businesses. Hence the importance of a university like this," observed Andrea Prete , President of Unioncamere.