Francesca Andrich, a career between international relations and the possibility of giving voice to ideas
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We interviewed Francesca Andrich, Head of the International Relations Unit at Politecnico di Milano, the structure that establishes and cultivates relationships with Europe and the world to create increasingly global teaching. With 20 years of experience, Francesca told us about the work she does, her career path at the University, the challenges she has encountered and her relationship with colleagues.
“I believe in participatory leadership, capable of stimulating new ideas, building common goals and accompanying people on their path of growth."
Francesca Andrich, Head of International Relations Unit
How did you come to deal with international relations in the academic world?
I graduated in International and Diplomatic Sciences in Bologna, in 2004. Immediately after graduating, I did a year of internship between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and some NGOs. I dreamed of working in the field of international cooperation, but I soon realized that access to that world required time and perseverance. In those same years, I discovered that Politecnico di Milano was beginning to open up to internationalization: the first courses in English were activated, capable of attracting students from all over the world. So, I decided to take the opportunity: I participated in a call for proposals and, in 2005, my career at Politecnico began.
What have been the main stages of your journey so far?
I started by dealing with the reception and integration of international students for the Bovisa Campus. Here I found a dynamic environment, where everything was still to be built. There was room to imagine, design, innovate: this is what ignited my motivation and which, even today, continues to feed it.
In a few years, the number of courses taught in English has increased exponentially, as has the number of international students. This is how the International Student Office was born, of which I became coordinator. Together with a team of seven people, I designed and developed services dedicated to hospitality, such as the Buddy project or the Welcome Week, which still represent cornerstones of our internationalization path.
After a brief experience at the School of Architecture, I returned to the field of international relations, where I continue to work as Head of the International Relations Unit.
What does your work and that of your team actually consist of?
The International Relations Unit is the office that promotes and supports academic cooperation globally. We do this through a solid and constantly expanding network of collaborations with prestigious universities and institutions around the world, including realities such as the IDEA League and the European alliance ENHANCE. Our goal is to contribute to building an increasingly international, inclusive teaching that is open to dialogue between different cultures and educational systems.
Every day we work to strengthen the international profile of the University and create new opportunities for students, teachers and technical and administrative staff.
What are the challenges you encounter in your work?
Working in the field of international relations, especially within alliances such as ENHANCE, means dealing with very different cultures, approaches and working styles every day. This diversity is a great richness, but it can also represent a concrete challenge: sometimes it becomes complicated to understand each other, find a common language and achieve shared goals.
It is a job that requires great listening and cooperation, flexibility and the ability to adapt continuously.
What does the international relationship mean to you?
The international dimension is where I really feel at home. I find that people who work in this context are often characterized by greater openness, the result of continuous confrontation with cultural diversity. It is precisely this relational richness that motivates me and that I try to give back, through my work, to the entire academic community.
Being able to contribute to something that generates impact inside and outside the university is, for me, one of the most beautiful and rewarding parts of this job.
How would you describe your leadership style?
I admire the leadership model of the Nordic countries, characterized by a participatory and inclusive style. In this approach, the leader is one person among others, who stands out for his ability to help the group find its own direction, rather than to impose it.
When I work with my team, I try to build goals together, defining them in a shared way and leaving room for their creativity. At the same time, I like to create new stimuli by proposing activities that are also challenges. I believe that testing oneself in unconventional contexts helps to discover hidden attitudes and potential, to strengthen self-confidence and to develop the desire to continuously improve.
What advice would you give to those who would like to embark on a path similar to yours?
The advice I would give is to cultivate your vision and never be afraid to share your ideas. Even an idea that doesn't immediately translate into a project can have great value. Presenting it in a structured way is already a way to tell something about oneself: one's way of thinking, of observing reality and the desire to improve it. And this, often, is the first step to generate change.