This introduction to this series of papers underlines the ways in which experiences and the theoretical texts to which the editors refer have been addressed. The intention is on the one hand to strengthen a dimension of systematic thinking with respect to a large international bibliography on public engagement by universities and on the other hand to commence a comparison with other affairs occurring in contexts and areas of thought that are more mature than those in Italy. The basic idea is to offer some reflections on cases of civic commitment of an academic nature from four different viewpoints in order to interpret the relationship between cities and universities: the social and political context in which experiences have matured; the theoretical and critical assumptions of corporative activities; the work with working practices and methods; the role of the university.


Keywords: Civic commitment; city-university; practices

Francesca Cognetti, Beatrice De Carli, in "TERRITORIO" 66/2013, pp. 16-17, DOI:10.3280/TR2013-066002