Within the framework of the European Erasmus+ project, Head of the UNN International Office Irina Leonova and the coordinator of the Russian-Italian University program, Associate Professor Vladimir Grishagin have visited the University of Calabria (Italy).  During their visit, Lobachevsky University representatives gave a number of lectures for the students of the Italian university on mathematical modeling  (V.A. Grishagin) and on topical issues of innovation economics (I.S. Leonova). The members of the UNN delegation also held a number of meetings with their Italian counterparts to discuss further joint participation in the Erasmus+ program, the current state of affairs in the implementation of the double-degree program by Lobachevsky University and the University of Calabria, and also the expansion of interaction between the two universities by developing new joint educational programs taught in English.

In particular, V.A. Grishagin and I.S. Leonova met with Gianpiero Barbuto, Head of the International Department at the University of Calabria, and with Prof. Davide Infante, coordinator of the Russian-Italian University program from the University of Calabria. They also took part in the meeting of the International Council at the Economics Department of the University of Calabria where cooperation between the two universities was discussed. Representatives of Lobachevsky University also met with the students from the UNN who currently study at the University of Calabria under the program of the Russian-Italian University. Currently, 7 students from Lobachevsky University are following their studies at the University of Calabria and 5 Italian students are studying at the UNN.

The University of Calabria is a state university established in the south of Italy in 1972. The University of Calabria is ranked 23rd in the world among young universities according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2016-2017. At the moment, it has about 35,000 students and more than 800 teaching staff members and researchers. Lobachevsky University and the University of Calabria have been successfully implementing their joint educational program "Russian-Italian University" since 1995. Under this program, students of both universities can study at the partner university in bachelor’s and master's programs and receive two degrees – a Russian and an Italian one.