Università Popolare degli Studi di Milano

The Popular University of Milan was founded in 1901 by the Italian teacher, sculptor and politician Ettore Ferrari, following the example of the People's Universities which, at the very beginning of the century, arose between Sweden, Denmark, England and France. The Popular University of Milan was the forerunner of the adventure of the other universities which, at a later stage, would enter the university world. In fact, the Popular University of Milan was followed by the Popular Milanese University, the Popular University (in) Milan" and the Milanese Proletarian University, otherwise known under the denomination of after-work university.

In the early years, the Popular University of Milan counted among its teachers and supporters well-known personalities and illustrious faces, such as Francesco Pullè, Gabriele D'Annunzio, Gaetano Salvemini, Benedetto Croce and Luigi Einaudi. However, the years of the fascist dictatorship marked the fate of the Popular University of Milan, which was forced to change teaching, culture and didactic methods. Subsequently, the Popular University of Milan experienced a period of profound crisis, which was only overcome at the end of 1970, when the intervention of Augusta Bassi in Lagostena, known as Tina, allowed the Popular University of Milan to return to the ancient glories.

In fact, Lagostena activated collaborations and partnerships with other cultural realities, until she was appointed President and Rector of the Popular University of Milan. The 1980s also marked a new and happy turning point for the Università Popolare degli Studi of Milan. In 1982, Professor Ottavio Ferulano founded the National Confederation of Italian Popular Universities (C.N.U.P.I.), to which the oldest and most well-known Popular Universities also joined, ready to embrace a more avant-garde and innovative future. In 1991, the Ministry of University and Scientific and Technological Research recognized the C.N.U.P.I as a legal personality, so as to officially recognize the authority of the university's training and teaching activities.