Introduzione / Introduction

Cities and universities, citizens and student communities lie at the heart of this volume, which brings together the outcomes of two intensive days of scholarly discussion organised by the Italian Association of Urban History (AISU) in autumn 2024. The choice of a topic of pressing contemporary relevance, in Italy as elsewhere, emerged from a dialogue with the principal institutions concerned: on the one hand, the scholarly community; on the other, the senior leadership of several universities, called upon to discuss the responsibilities and future prospects of university and urban policies. Among the issues addressed, the provision of accommodation for students stands out as one of the most critical. University housing, in fact, cannot be reduced to the availability of a place to live: it forms part of a broader system of spaces, services and relationships, encompassing facilities for study, sport, social interaction and leisure. How have approaches to student housing evolved over time? What policies are being pursued today? How effective is the collaboration between municipal administrations and university governing bodies? And what prominence does this issue receive in the narratives through which universities commemorate their own histories—narratives often centred on scientific achievements, teaching, and architectural and museum heritage, but less attentive to the material conditions of student life?