Educating for Flourishing at Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma

At the heart of Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma, the Human Flourishing Program, designed by Xavier Symons and Jonathan Rutledge, promoted deep reflection on the meaning of a full and mindful life. Combining the science of well-being with everyday practices such as gratitude, kindness, and introspection, the course invited students to explore the fundamental dimensions of existence: authentic relationships, the search for meaning, the balance between physical and mental health, and the ethical orientation of one's actions. Inspired by the model developed at Harvard, the course created an educational space in which academic research is intertwined with personal growth, stimulating the development of individuals capable not only of excelling in their areas of study but also of contributing in concrete ways to the well-being of society. An educational experience that has shown how teaching human flourishing means offering students tools to understand themselves more deeply, their own path, and the role they can play in the world.