General Stefano Mannino leads the agreement between Defence and University: signed the agreement between CASD and the University of Bari

At a time in history when cooperation between seemingly separate worlds is becoming increasingly necessary, the following was signed at the Rector's Office of theUniversity of Bari 'Aldo Moro'an important framework agreement between the University of Bari and the Centre for Advanced Defence Studies/Secondary School (CASD/SSU).

Signing the agreement were the Rector, Prof. Stefano Bronzini, and the Army Corps General Stefano Mannino, President of the CASD, already Commander of the 185° Reggimento Paracadutisti Ricognizione e Acquisizione Obiettivi “Folgore” (185° RRAO) and the Army Special Forces Command (COMFOSE). The agreement is part of a broader vision of institutional collaboration between the university and defence worlds, with the aim of promoting research, training and the exchange of expertise in highly strategic sectors for the country system.

The partnership aims at enhancing Italian academic and military excellence, contributing to the development of higher education, joint research activities and educational projects addressing topics of common interest such as international security, STEM disciplines, strategic sciences, digitisation and leadership.

A synergy for the security of the future. The words of Rector Bronzini and General Mannino

During the event, Rector Bronzini expressed great satisfaction with the agreement reached, emphasising how collaboration between universities and military institutions can generate added value for the country's growth. "This understanding - he stated - represents a concrete opportunity to build bridges between different institutional realities, broadening the horizons of knowledge, innovation and development. In an increasingly interconnected and complex world, the sharing of expertise becomes essential to meet global challenges'.

The General Mannino, an officer with a long and prestigious career behind him, reaffirmed the centrality of dialogue between different fields, united, however, by the desire to invest in human capital. "Cooperation between the academic and defence worlds - he said - is now more necessary than ever to develop effective responses to the complex threats facing our society. Only an integrated and multi-disciplinary approach can guarantee solutions to the new geopolitical, technological and environmental challenges'..

Born in Enna in 1964, Mannino He embarked on his military career by attending the Military Academy in Modena. A graduate in Strategic Sciences and Political Science, he has participated in numerous international missions in Somalia, Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq. He commanded elite units of the Italian Army and was Military Attaché at the Italian Embassy in London. He is decorated with several honours, including the Bronze Cross of Merit of the Army, the Mauritian Medal and the Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic.

His leadership and strategic vision, gained in complex operational contexts and in international environments, are today a fundamental resource for strengthening the link between defence and culture, between technological innovation and humanistic knowledge.

The role of CASD in national and international education. A unique model between military culture and academic knowledge

The Centre for Advanced Defence Studies/Secondary School (CASD/SSU) stands out as a structure of excellence for the training of high-level military and civilian leadership. Its uniqueness lies in its dual identity: that of a military institution of higher education and that of a higher university school recognised by the national system. Within the Ministry of Defence, the CASD represents a point of reference for the development of critical thinking, analytical skills and a multidisciplinary approach to the challenges of national and global security.

The Centre is divided into four institutes - the Istituto Alti Studi Difesa (IASD), the Istituto Superiore di Stato Maggiore Interforze (ISSMI), the Istituto Ricerca ed Analisi per la Difesa (IRAD) and the Centro Formazione Logistica Interforze (CEFLI) - which offer highly specialised training courses open to both military personnel and civil servants, professionals and scholars. The educational offerings include PhDs, Level I and II Masters and higher education courses.

Among the main thematic areas: the cybersecurity, the global strategy, the leadership and organisational innovation, the digitisation of processes and the legal studies for innovation. The CASD operates with a strong international vocation, hosting officers and leaders from allied countries, and promotes the building of a knowledge network capable of supporting contemporary challenges.

The agreement with the University of Bari is therefore part of a path of growth and openness towards the academic world and scientific research, helping to train a new generation of professionals capable of interpreting change and leading with competence and vision.

With this collaboration, the CASD and the University of Bari lay the foundations for an ambitious project: combining scientific rigour and operational pragmatism, culture and defence, to contribute to the security, innovation and resilience of the country.

Source: https://www.uniba.it/it/ateneo/rettorato/ufficio-stampa/comunicati-stampa/anno-2025/uniba-casd