Army Officers Philosophy Course: It Will Be Held in Modena, Agreement Between Military Academy and UniMoRe

After weeks of controversies, political tensions, and protests that had ignited public debate, the philosophy course intended for future officers of the Italian Army will take place. Not in Bologna, as initially planned, but at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (UniMoRe), in close collaboration with the Military Academy of Modena.

As reported by il Resto del Carlino, the decision was formalized during a council of the law degree course, hosted right at the Military Academy, in the presence of the rector of UniMoRe, Rita Cucchiara, and Major General Stefano Messina, Commander of the Academy. A step that marks the continuation of an institutional dialogue that, as emphasized by the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, “someone would have liked to interrupt.”

The Change in Academic Regulations

The new philosophical direction will be included in the degree course in Strategic Sciences, affiliated with the Department of Law, along with an additional management-oriented path. The course council approved the change in the educational regulations starting from the academic year 2026–2027, with the aim of strengthening the cultural and critical preparation of the military institute's officer cadets.

The initiative is part of the degree class in Defense and Security Sciences (L/DS) and aims to broaden the educational horizon of future Armed Forces cadres, integrating technical-operational skills with tools of ethical and philosophical analysis.

A Consolidated Relationship Between UniMoRe and the Military Academy

UniMoRe highlighted how the new curricular paths represent a further strengthening of a didactic and scientific-cultural collaboration that has been ongoing for over twenty-five years with the Military Academy. A structural relationship that has allowed the adaptation over time of the degree course in Strategic Sciences to the educational needs of the Italian Army.

Currently, about 700 female and male students of the Army and the Carabinieri are involved in the university courses of the Emilia-based university, not only in Strategic Sciences but also in fields such as medicine, engineering, and law.

Why Modena Said Yes

According to the rector Rita Cucchiara, the introduction of the philosophical direction – along with the management one – represents an investment in the overall quality of education:

“Issues such as the ethics of technologies, dual use, the relationship between natural and digital knowledge require cultural tools that are up to the task. Topics that can become a driving force for educational and interdisciplinary initiatives also aimed at civilian students.”

Since the summer, UniMoRe had been called upon to develop a curricular proposal capable of structurally addressing the philosophical and ethical dimensions that today assume an increasing weight in strategic planning, security, and the use of new technologies.

Bernini: “Educating Critical Thinking Strengthens Security”

Satisfaction was also expressed by the Minister of University and Research Anna Maria Bernini, who described the decision as a step forward for the entire country:

“When the university chooses to fully assume its educational responsibility, the country takes a step forward. It is the resumption of a dialogue between knowledge and service, between academic education and national security.”

For the minister, security and defense cannot be reduced to mere technical training:

“Security is not only technical, but also a deep understanding of the changing world. Investing in the education of officers means investing in stronger institutions, in a more mature democracy, in an Italy stronger in its freedom.”

Culture, Ethics, and Strategy: A Long-Term Choice

The choice to place the philosophy course within the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia marks a point of balance between academic autonomy and the needs of the military instrument. In an increasingly complex strategic context, marked by the impact of emerging technologies and the ethical challenges related to their use, the training of officers also involves strengthening critical thinking and decision-making responsibility.

A clear signal: the military training of the future does not renounce cultural reflection but integrates it as an essential element of leadership and national security.