(February 9, 2017) Doctor honoris causa for "scientific growth of the University and the enhancement of the natural environment": a recognition that the University of Vlore (Albania) wanted to give to Professor Genuario Belmonte, Professor of Zoology at the Salento University in the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies. The ceremony took place in recent days in Vlore, where the local university choose to reward the results of an educational-scientific collaboration that has lasted for 15 years. "We opened a small educational museum of Marine Biology - says Professor Belmonte - and a chemical-physical analysis laboratory; designed a public aquarium (already approved by the authorities and waiting to be realized) and the International Centre for Science for the marine environment. Thanks to this work, a three-year undergraduate degree in Biology has recently been established in Vlore. Scientific cooperation will develop further with the promotion and enhancement of the local coastal environment. In recent years we have taken care of itineraries, exhibitions, tours (educational and otherwise) even with the students of our university, and many international projects have led to scientific publications. All as part of a special framework agreement that links our universities in teaching and research activities. I am particularly impressed by this recognition, a sign of confidence in me and the University of Salento: an encouragement to continue the partnership, with the aim to bring our two countries closer and closer". "Congratulations to Professor Belmonte - says dean Vincenzo Zara - for this recognition which demonstrates the importance of international cooperation not only from the scientific point of view, but also for the enhancement and development of our areas." (Red)

ABOUT / THE HISTORY ON UNISALENTO

Even though there was a strong request for a university in Lecce, the situation was not resolved until1955, when The University Consortium was founded. It worked with the Province of Lecce and the majority of towns in the surrounding area to create the Autonomous Teaching Magisterium Institute (Istituto autonomo di Magistero). While waiting to be recognized legally as a state university, the Magistero started its first university courses. Legal recognition arrived in 1959 which allowed students to be awarded a recognized degree. The university itself was recognised as a national university in 1967, with the institution of the Faculty of Physical, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
In 1987 the Faculty of Economics and Financial Sciences was born, now called the Faculty of Economics and Commerce. The Faculty of Engineering was instituted in the 1990. In 1995 the degree program in Foreign Languages and Literature was transformed into the Faculty of Languages.
In 1997 the first lessons in the Faculty of Cultural Heritage started, along with the institution of the Science of Educational Training Faculty. 1998 was the turn of the Law Faculty and in 1997 the Faculty of Engineering began diploma courses in Logistics and Production Engineering, which transformed into the degree course in Industrial Engineering.
A second Faculty of Engineering sprouted at the Brindisi campus of the university. There, the Faculty of Industrial Engineering, developed the Masters course in Aerospace Engineering. Also, in 2006 at the Brindisi campus, the Faculty of Social, Political, and Regional Science was instituted.
In September of 2006 the Università di Lecce was renamed the Università del Salento, the University of Salento to respond to the growth of the university in Salento with the addition of the Brindisi campus.