De Laurentiis to get honorary degree at Federico II, uni divided | OneFootball

The president of Napoli, Aurelio De Laurentiis, is preparing to receive an honorary degree in Business Economics from the University of Naples Federico II.

Naples, De Laurentiis towards honorary degree at Federico II: date set, but the award divides the university

The honor, which represents one of the highest academic recognitions, was proposed by the Department of Economics, Management, and Institutions and voted on by a large majority. It was strongly supported by the rector Matteo Lorito, one of the main promoters of the initiative.

The date of the ceremony: September 29

According to reports from la Repubblica, a date has already been set: Monday, September 29, when the Aula Magna of Federico II is expected to host the official ceremony. On that occasion, De Laurentiis will also deliver his lectio magistralis, which he has already started working on.

However, the appointment is not yet secured. Within the university, divisions and resistances are emerging that could affect the path towards the award.

Internal resistances

While the Department has expressed a favorable vote, there are also critical voices. Stefano Consiglio, president of the School of Humanities, told Repubblica: “We will see what De Laurentiis' qualifications are.”

The reference is to the university's regulations, which state that an honorary degree can only be awarded to individuals “whose scientific, technological, cultural, and social merits are of undeniable significance and unanimously recognized at a national or international public level.”

And it is precisely on this point that the debate focuses: for some faculty members, De Laurentiis' entrepreneurial and cultural merits are beyond question, while others believe they do not fully meet the required academic criteria.

The decisive step: the Commission and the Ministry

After the Department's resolution, the dossier is now in the hands of the university's Commission, composed of the rector and the presidents of the four Schools of Federico II (Medicine, Agriculture, Humanities, Basic Sciences). It is in this setting that the main divisions are manifesting.

Moreover, before the official proclamation, the approval of the Ministry of University will also be necessary. Only then can the honorary degree to Aurelio De Laurentiis be considered final.

A recognition that sparks debate

The initiative, which if positive would represent an important mark of esteem for the Napoli patron, remains suspended between enthusiasm and controversy. If the ceremony on September 29 is confirmed, Naples would witness an event of strong symbolic impact, capable of further fueling the debate between academic and entrepreneurial value.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇮🇹 here.