SISSA is committed to promoting a healthy, respectful and inclusive work and study environment for its entire community — faculty, researchers, staff, and students. The School has activated a wide range of tools to protect individual wellbeing, encourage inclusion, and support different life needs, including gender equality policies, childcare and psyhcological support.
Born in 2011 by initiative of a group of SISSA students and administrative members, SISSA CLUB is an association promoting cultural activities and sports. During the years SISSA Club has organized many activities, ranging from drawing, dancing and language courses to movie and board games club. SISSA club has also supported the SISSA football and volleyball teams.
Moreover, SISSA Club plays an active role in the organization of SISSA welcome and summer parties.
Today SISSA Club is happy more than ever to help enthusiastic and resourceful people in the organization of new activities.
The Music Room at SISSA, located above the gym in Building B5, offers students, researchers and staff a space to express themselves beyond academic work.
Equipped for rehearsals and informal gatherings, the room is open to anyone in the SISSA community who wishes to play, compose, or simply unwind through music. From solo practice to small jam sessions, the space supports both personal well-being and shared experiences.
The campus gym, located in Building B5, offers a dedicated space where members of the community can take care of their body as well as their mind.
Open to students, researchers, and staff, the gym is equipped for individual workouts and small group activities. It also hosts many courses.
To support personal well-being, the campus also includes a quiet meditation and prayer room, open to everyone. This space has also been used for scientific studies on meditation and its cognitive effects, reflecting SISSA’s commitment to both scientific research and human-centered care.
Located within the SISSA park, La SISSA dei Piccoli is the on-campus nursery service dedicated to the children of SISSA’s community. It offers a welcoming, safe, and stimulating environment for children aged 13 to 36 months, with indoor and outdoor play areas.
The kindergarten is available to:
- Faculty, researchers, staff, students, and collaborators of SISSA
- Up to 24 children, in a newly renovated facility surrounded by nature
- Families of different backgrounds — the staff also speak English
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM The service operates under an agreement with the Municipality of Trieste.
Info and reservations: +39 040 3787690
See the documents on SISSAnet
Moving to a new country for study or research can be challenging — SISSA offers dedicated support to make this transition smoother. The School provides assistance with housing, bureaucratic procedures, and everyday logistics, particularly for international students, postdocs, and visitors. Key services include:
- Help finding short- and long-term accommodation in Trieste
- Guidance on rental contracts, legal requirements, and registration
- Support with visa procedures, healthcare registration, and tax codes
- Information on local services and life in Trieste
Thanks to this network, new members of the SISSA community can focus on their work — while feeling at home from day one.
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SISSA has no guesthouse, no student dormitories and no dedicated housing office. The housing service is currently managed by the <a href="/intranet/welcome-and-welfare-office-wel">Welcome and Welfare Office (WEL)</a> (onsite noticeboards in via Bonomea 265) and by an external company, in the form of an online noticeboard reserved for SISSA personnel, guests and students. Accommodation is private: each landlord is responsible for their offers, requirements and contractual relationship with the tenant.
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More information available on SISSAnet
Taking care of mental health is essential for a balanced and productive academic life. SISSA offers a confidential psychological support service for students, researchers, and staff facing stress, anxiety, emotional difficulties, or simply in need of someone to talk to. The service is free and confidential, provided by qualified professionals, accessible in multiple languages, including English and Italian and designed for both short-term help and longer-term support Sessions can cover academic stress, adjustment challenges, personal or relational issues, or general well-being. Appointments are available on campus or online, depending on individual needs.
For more information or to book a session, you can visit the internal services page or contact the Student Secretariat.
SISSA promotes a respectful, inclusive, and fair working and learning environment through the work of the CUG (Comitato Unico di Garanzia), which has a propositive, consultative, and monitoring role. It works to promote equal opportunities and gender balance, support a culture of organizational well-being and prevent and address any form of discrimination, harassment, or moral and psychological violence in the workplace. The committee includes representatives from across the SISSA community and can be contacted for guidance, support, or to raise concerns in full confidentiality.
SISSA’s Gender Equality Plan (GEP) is a strategic document that defines the School’s commitment to reducing gender disparities and promoting an inclusive, fair, and respectful academic environment.
The plan outlines:
- Objectives to detect and correct gender imbalances
- Measures to support career development, work-life balance, and equal representation
- Monitoring tools based on specific indicators to track progress over time
- Integration of inclusive language, diversity policies, and awareness-raising actions
The GEP aligns with national and European standards and is updated regularly to reflect the evolving needs of the community.