Foreign minister Antonio Tajani has unveiled an initiative to promote the Italian language and culture in the world and to bring youngsters from abroad to study in Italy's universities who can form a global "friends of Italy" network.
"Studying our language, making our culture known, is a way to attract young people of other nationalities to Italy," Tajani said Thursday on the sidelines of the first Italian Training Days in the World, held at the foreign ministry in Rome.
"We want to create a very broad project with education minister (Anna Maria) Bernini and universities minister (Giuseppe) Valditara," Tajani continued.
"The aim is to spread Italian culture and training in the world, but also to attract young non-Italians to our country who can study in our universities, in order to have a network of friends of Italy."
The project is also "a way to strengthen Italy's cultural diplomacy" and will involve foreign online universities and offer scholarships, Tajani explained.
Tajani plans to present the initiative to a conference of Italian ambassadors taking place on 21-22 December, he said.
Students, external experts, teachers, school managers and administrative personnel attended the Italian Training Days in the World event, according to the foreign ministry's website.
