Stefania Giannini (born 18 November 1960) is an Italian politician and linguist. She served as Minister of Education, Universities and Research from 2014 until 2016. She is currently Assistant-Director General for Education at UNESCO in Paris.[1]

Stefania Giannini
Minister of Education, Universities and Research
In office
22 February 2014 – 16 December 2016
Prime MinisterMatteo Renzi
Preceded byMaria Chiara Carrozza
Succeeded byValeria Fedeli
Member of the Senate of the Republic
In office
15 March 2013 – 23 March 2018
ConstituencyTuscany
Personal details
Born (1960-11-18) 18 November 1960 (age 63)
Lucca, Italy
Political partyDemocratic Party (2015-present)
Civic Choice (2013-2015)
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Pisa (degree)
University of Pavia (PhD)

Early career edit

Born in Lucca, Giannini in 1991 became a professor at the University for Foreigners in Perugia, holding the chairs of Phonetics and Phonology (1992-1994), Sociolinguistics (1994-1998) and of Glottology and Linguistics (1998-2013).[2] In 2004 she also became rector of the Perugia University for Foreigners.[2] She was one of the first and youngest women to hold this position in Italy. [1]

Political career edit

As a candidate in Tuscany with the Civic Choice party of Mario Monti, Giannini was elected senator in February 2013.[2] In November the same year, she was appointed secretary and coordinator of the party Scelta civica.[3]

As Senator of the Republic of Italy between 2013 – 2018 and Minister of Education, Universities and Research (2014 – 2016), she developed and implemented a structural reform of the Italian education system, centred on social inclusion and cultural awareness.[1]

On 21 February 2014, Giannini was appointed as Minister of Education, University and Research in the government of Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.[4] During Italy's presidency of the Council of the European Union in 2014, she also chaired the Education and Competitiveness Council of the European Union. She was succeeded by Valeria Fedeli in 2016.

From 2017, Giannini served as adviser to the European Commissioner for Research and Innovation Carlos Moedas.[5]

Career with the United Nations edit

In 2018, UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay appointed Giannini as one of four new members of the organization's senior management team.[5] Giannini has since been serving as Assistant Director-General for Education, making her the top United Nations official in the field of education.[6]

From 2022 to 2023, Giannini served on the European Space Agency’s High-Level Advisory Group on Human and Robotic Space Exploration for Europe.[7]

Other activities edit

Recognition edit

Bibliography edit

  • Tra grammatica e pragmatica: la geminazione consonantica in latino (Giardini, 1989)
  • Percorsi metalinguistici. Giuliano di Toledo e la teoria della grammatica (FrancoAngeli, 1996)
  • La pubblicità comparativa. Una via europea (FrancoAngeli, 1999)
  • Il cambiamento linguistico. Suoni, forme, costrutti, parole (Carocci editore, 2003)
  • La fonologia dell'interlingua. Principi e metodi di analisi (FrancoAngeli, 2003)

References edit

  1. ^ a b c UNESCO (8 December 2022). "Office of the Assistant Director-General for Education". UNESCO.org. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Valentina Santarpia (21 February 2014). "Stefania Giannini , glottologa e linguista Un'altra rettrice come ministro dell'Istruzione". Corriere della Sera. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  3. ^ "Scelta civica, è scissione. Giannini nuovo segretario, Bombassei presidente". La Repubblica. 16 November 2013. Retrieved 23 February 2014.
  4. ^ "Il neo ministro Stefania Giannini: "L'istruzione è una priorità"". Il Tirreno. February 22, 2014. Retrieved 22 February 2014.
  5. ^ a b UNESCO Executive appointments UNESCO, press release of 29 March 2018.
  6. ^ Assistant Director-General for Education UNESCO.
  7. ^ N° 11–2023: Independent advisory group presents report on European space revolution to ESA European Space Agency (ESA), press release of 23 March 2023.
  8. ^ Advisory Board Global Education Monitoring Report (GEM).
  9. ^ Board of Directors Global Partnership for Education.

External links edit

Political offices
Preceded by Italian Minister of Education
2014-2016
Succeeded by