SAIS Europe, formerly known as The Bologna Center, celebrated its 60th anniversary on February 22, 2015.
To commemorate the event, keynote guest speaker Pier Carlo Padoan, Italian Economy and Finance Minister, was in attendance. SAIS Europe Director Michael Plummer welcomed guests and provided remarks on the history of SAIS in Bologna and its strong link with the City, which has hosted the institution for six decades.
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| Minister Padoan (right) and Director Plummer |
SAIS's campus in Bologna was founded in 1955 by C. Grove Haines, who believed there was a need to set up a school of international affairs where young European and American scholars could learn from one another and work together to reach common international goals. As an intellectual hub of Italy, Bologna was the perfect location for SAIS to establish its European presence.
Sixty years later, SAIS Europe welcomes students from over 35 different countries each year with a common: to train the leaders of tomorrow to study international affairs, history, economics and languages.
During his remarks, Minister Padoan commented positively on the European Commission’s agreement to extend Greece's financial rescue package by four months. He also emphasized the need for reforms both at the Italian and the European levels.
Minister Padoan also used this platform to announce Italy and Switzerland’s recent agreement to exchange tax-relevant information as part of wider negotiations on contentious financial issues between the two countries.
The well attended event brought together students, alumni, faculty as well as prominent members of the city; Bologna Mayor, Virginio Merola, the Rector and Vice Rector of the University of Bologna and many others.
Amina Abdiuahab
