The “Unipa Parents Service”: a pedagogical research and Third Mission commitment to support parenting

Abstract

The paper aims to present the Parents Service of the University of Palermo as an expression of its Third Mission. This Service was born during the Covid-19 pandemic starting from the educational needs expressed by some student mothers, in relation to their right to study in the difficult relationship with motherhood experiences marked by contextual but also personal and family difficulties. Starting from a reflection on being a mother and student in our society, Vielle illustrated the meaning of the Service which today dedicates specific attention to student-parents, offering educational support but above all support for parenting, promotion of parenting competences, and gender-based violence prevention, in the perspective of a broader cultural and community change.