LUSDA, student diplomacy and international inclusion at LUISS
WAI meets a student reality that promotes diplomacy, international relations, and English-language participation
In the listening journey promoted by Welcome Association Italy through the WAI Atlas of University Hospitality project, discussion with student associations is a key step.
Understanding the experience of international students also means listening to those who live the university closely every day: associations, student groups, support networks and realities capable of intercepting needs, difficulties and opportunities that do not always emerge through institutional channels.
The meeting between WAI and Students Diplomatic Association – LUSDA, a student association active in the context of LUISS Guido Carli and oriented to the themes of diplomacy, international relations, student participation and confrontation with the institutional world, is part of this perspective.
LUSDA represents a significant reality because it combines an interest in international affairs with a concrete choice of inclusion: carrying out its activities in English, making them accessible to international students who do not speak Italian or are still familiarizing themselves with the language.
A student reality open to the international dimension
Students Diplomatic Association – LUSDA was established as a participatory space for students interested in diplomacy, international relations and major global issues.
The association is part of a university that is strongly projected toward internationalization and offers students opportunities for discussion, growth and in-depth study of issues related to the diplomatic, institutional and international world.
LUSDA’s value lies in its ability to make these issues accessible through an open, dynamic and dialogue-oriented student community. The association not only offers in-depth activities, but also helps create a space where Italian and international students can meet around common interests.
In an increasingly global university environment, entities such as LUSDA take on an important role: they allow students to experience university not only as an academic path, but also as an experience of participation, relationship and personal growth.
English as a choice for inclusion
One of the most significant elements that emerged from the meeting concerns LUSDA’s choice to conduct its activities in English.
This approach is a hallmark of the association and an important practice in fostering the inclusion of international students. Language, in fact, can be one of the first barriers a student encounters when he or she arrives in Italy: it affects participation in events, association life, relationship building and the ability to feel part of the university community.
Choosing English as the ordinary language of activities means creating a more accessible space in which even those who do not speak Italian can participate, intervene, propose ideas and build relationships.
For an international student, joining an association where he or she can communicate more easily can make all the difference, especially in the first few months of the college experience. It means finding an environment where he or she feels less isolated, more involved and freer to contribute.
Diplomacy and student participation
LUSDA values diplomacy not only as a field of study, but also as a practice of confrontation, listening and participation.
Through its activities, the association brings students closer to the world of international relations, offering opportunities for in-depth study and dialogue consistent with the profile of a university like LUISS. This type of experience is particularly useful for students interested in international pathways, institutions, global organizations, cooperation and diplomatic careers.
The associational dimension also enables students to develop skills that go beyond academic training: organizational skills, cross-cultural communication, teamwork, public speaking, networking and dealing with different perspectives.
In this sense, LUSDA contributes to making the university a more lively and participatory space in which students can be active participants in their own growth.
A diverse community
Another central aspect of LUSDA’s work is its focus on the heterogeneity of its community.
The association seeks to foster, as much as possible, the presence of students with different nationalities, backgrounds and paths. This focus makes LUSDA a particularly interesting space for the WAI Atlas Project because it shows how student participation can become a tool for integration.
International students need more than just administrative services or practical information. They also need places where they can build relationships, engage with other students, share interests and feel part of a community.
Student associations can perform precisely this function: creating opportunities for meetings that make it easier to move from a formal presence at the university to real participation in university life.
The challenges of international students
The discussion with LUSDA provided insight into some of the difficulties that can affect the international student experience.
A first issue concerns housing. The search for housing can be complex for those arriving from abroad, especially when they are unfamiliar with the Italian housing market, do not speak Italian, or do not yet have a support network in the area.
In some cases, the language barrier may also affect shared housing, where Italian roommates may be preferred for reasons of daily communication. This shows how the housing issue is not only economic or logistical, but also relational and cultural.
A second aspect concerns bureaucracy. Administrative procedures, documents, paperwork to be completed, and steps such as opening a bank account can be difficult for a student who is not yet familiar with the Italian system.
Finally, the issue of integration into daily life emerges. Even when the university provides a welcoming environment, the international student may encounter difficulties outside the academic environment: in the city, in services, in social relations, and in building a stable daily life.
Arrival as a delicate moment
According to the discussion, one of the most delicate moments is the arrival in Italy and the beginning of the university experience.
The pre-departure phase can be complex, especially the organizational and bureaucratic aspects. However, the moment of arrival exposes the student to a more concrete dimension of difficulty: orienting themselves in a new city, understanding the workings of the university, dealing with administrative paperwork, building new relationships, and overcoming possible language obstacles.
At this stage, loneliness can become a particularly relevant factor. For this reason, having access to open, international, English-language association spaces can be an important support.
LUSDA, through its approach, contributes to creating an environment in which the student can find opportunities to meet and participate from the earliest moments of the college experience.
From internationalization to concrete participation
LUISS is perceived as a strongly internationalization-oriented university, with much information also available in English and generally accessible communication with faculty.
This is a positive element because it enables international students to move more independently within the academic track.
At the same time, the comparison with LUSDA suggests that internationalization must increasingly translate into everyday practices. It is not enough for a university to be international in its offerings or in its institutional communication: it is important that this dimension is also perceptible in the spaces of participation, associative activities, services and moments of direct interaction.
In this sense, student associations can help make internationalization more concrete, turning it into real experiences of meeting, comparing and belonging.
The role of English-speaking associations
Associations that use English as their primary language can play an important role in fostering the inclusion of international students.
It is not just about making an event or communication more understandable. It is about creating environments in which students from diverse backgrounds can participate as equals.
LUSDA represents a good practice in this direction. Choosing to conduct the activities in English allows an initial barrier to be broken down and encourages broader participation.
For Italian students, moreover, this kind of context is an opportunity to develop language and intercultural skills. For international students, on the other hand, it can become a space for entry into university and associational life.
A practice to be enhanced
In the WAI Atlas of University Hospitality journey, entities such as LUSDA represent important interlocutors because they allow us to observe the university from the perspective of students and the networks they build.
LUSDA offers an example of student participation geared toward diplomacy, international dimensions and language inclusion.
His experience shows that welcoming international students does not depend only on administrative procedures or formal services. It also depends on being able to participate, build relationships, share interests and feel part of a community.
In this sense, LUSDA represents a practice to be enhanced: one capable of transforming the international dimension into a concrete experience of encounter and participation.
Toward a more international and inclusive university
The university of the future will have to be increasingly able to accommodate students with different languages, backgrounds and paths.
This means making information more accessible, strengthening support at the arrival and orientation stages, improving communication even in administrative contexts, and creating real opportunities for integration into daily life.
It also means valuing student associations as places for participation and growth.
Students Diplomatic Association – LUSDA shows how a student body can help make the college experience more international, open and accessible. Through diplomacy, international relations, and the use of English as a language of participation, the association provides a space for students to meet, exchange ideas, and grow together.
For Welcome Association Italy, listening to and enhancing experiences like this means strengthening the path started with the WAI Atlas of University Welcome: a project created to better understand how international students experience university in Italy and to bring out, alongside critical issues, the good practices present in academic contexts.
The meeting with LUSDA is therefore a further step in this journey: an opportunity to get to know a student reality active in the world of diplomacy and to value its contribution in the debate on reception, language inclusion, participation and internationalization of university life.
