Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies

Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Name	Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies
Established	1987
Type	Public
Rector	Sabina Nuti
City	Pisa
Country	Italy
Affiliations	Conference of Italian University Rectors, European University Association

Contents

History
Academic profile
Organization and governance
Campus and facilities
Notable people
See also

Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies. It is a special-statute public university located in Pisa, Tuscany, operating within the Italian higher education system. Founded in 1987 from the merger of existing institutions, it is part of the Italian network of Scuole Superiori Universitarie focused on elite postgraduate education and research. The school is renowned for its selective admission process, offering fully-funded positions to top students in fields spanning the social sciences, experimental sciences, and applied sciences.

History

The institution's origins trace back to the 18th century with the founding of the Convitto Nazionale Cicognini in Prato. Its modern form was established by a 1987 law that merged the historic Scuola Normale Superiore's sister college with other entities, creating a distinct postgraduate school. Key figures in its development include former rectors like Vincenzo Barone and Pierdomenico Perata, who shaped its research-intensive mission. The school has expanded its international footprint through partnerships with institutions like the École Polytechnique and membership in the European University Association.

Academic profile

The school is organized into several institutes, including the Institute of Law, Politics, and Development and the Institute of Life Sciences. It grants advanced degrees such as the Diploma di Perfezionamento, equivalent to a PhD, and specialized master's programs. Research is highly interdisciplinary, with major strengths in robotics, biorobotics, agricultural economics, and international law. Notable research units include The BioRobotics Institute, led by pioneers like Paolo Dario, and the Laboratory of Agricultural Economics under Gianluca Brunori. The school consistently ranks highly in national assessments by ANVUR and international tables.

Organization and governance

Governance is led by a Rector, currently Sabina Nuti, and overseen by a board of directors which includes representatives from the Italian Ministry of University. The academic senate, comprising directors of the institutes and elected faculty, sets educational policy. The student body is represented through the Students' Representative Committee. The school maintains close operational ties with the University of Pisa and the Scuola Normale Superiore, sharing some facilities and collaborative PhD programs under the Pisa University System umbrella.

Campus and facilities

The main campus is situated in the historic center of Pisa, centered around the medieval Palazzo della Carovana and other renovated buildings like the Monastery of San Silvestro. A significant modern expansion is the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies Research Center in Volterra. Specialized facilities include the Polo Sant'Anna Valdera in Pontedera, which houses the BioRobotics Institute and the Center for Micro-BioRobotics of the Italian Institute of Technology. The school also manages the Castello di Lari for conferences and the Fattoria di Celle for agricultural research.

Notable people

Notable alumni and faculty include Nobel laureate Carlo Rubbia, former Italian Prime Minister Giuliano Amato, and President of the European Parliament David Sassoli. In science, faculty members like Cecilia Laschi and Barbara Mazzolai are pioneers in soft robotics. Legal scholars include former ICJ Judge Giorgio Gaja. In economics, notable figures are Daniele Archibugi and Andrea Renda. The school's community has also produced leaders in public service like Magistrate Livia Pomodoro.