The Be.Long project, the online service to make staying longer in Florence easier, was developed by Destination Florence in partnership with the City of Florence. The project was formed in 2021 to support students and startuppers, as well as being a useful tool for universities and study-abroad programmes, and has now grown to provide information on bureaucracy, transport, health, lifestyle, accommodation, community service activities and more, enabling students, digital nomads and others to integrate within the community.
The trip to the USA sought to welcome new flows of international students through the Be.Long project. The city currently sees an average of 35,000 foreign students per year, of which 15,000 were Americans by 2022, with ever-increasing numbers since the lifting of the pandemic-imposed restrictions. Florence was the only Italian city to present itself autonomously in Denver for NAFSA, a non-profit association of international educators with over 10,000 members and educators, and 3,500 institutions to its credit. More than 200 exhibitors and 150 countries from around the world were present at the annual convention.
The initiative was also presented on May 9 at Palazzo Vecchio by the Tourism Councilor Cecilia Del Re, the University and Research Councilor Titta Meucci, the Consul General of the United States of America in Florence Ragini Gupta, the President of Destination Florence Convention & Visitors Bureau Federico Barraco and the external relations manager of Unicoop Firenze Claudio Vanni (Unicoop Firenze is now the main sponsor of the Be.Long project). With Unicoop Firenze, projects dedicated to students are further developed with visits to local production companies for an education in sustainable, zero-kilometer and healthy food consumption, promoting the territory.
As part of the presentation, the Study Abroad in Florence guide was presented, ahead of its preview at NAFSA. Councilor Del Re commented
“The Be.Long project is growing and is making its debut in the United States to attract a target other than mass tourism to Florence...a project that aims to make Florence more and more the city of training and innovation, creating favourable conditions for the many students and aspiring entrepreneurs who every year come to attend foreign schools, incubators and universities that are active in the area, to which smart workers are added, ready for a new approach to the world of work and living even after the pandemic. It’s also a way to lower the average age in Florence, welcoming a younger segment of the population”.
The following partners supported participation in NAFSA: The Student Hotel Florence, Centro Italiano Firenze, In Florence Academy, Tuscan Committee for Italian Language and Culture Schools, Italian Me, and Lingua Viva Educational Group.
Study Abroad in Florence. Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy the Experience of a Lifetime is the new guide written by Marco Bracci and Marco De La Pierre and published by The Florentine Press, which allows students to reflect on the unique study abroad experience that can have a positive impact on a student’s future. The publication gives prospective students the chance to find out about what awaits them in Florence, so that they are better prepared to appreciate the myriad opportunities for personal and professional growth. This guide also provides practical information to ensure that these “temporary” residents make the most of daily life in the city, featuring messages from many leading figures in the city.
